diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/cmake/setup-hook.sh b/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/cmake/setup-hook.sh
index f6dd5460c35..bf876e81cda 100755
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/cmake/setup-hook.sh
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/cmake/setup-hook.sh
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ cmakeConfigurePhase() {
 
     # Avoid cmake resetting the rpath of binaries, on make install
     # And build always Release, to ensure optimisation flags
-    cmakeFlags="-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DCMAKE_SKIP_BUILD_RPATH=ON $cmakeFlags"
+    cmakeFlags="-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${cmakeBuildType:-Release} -DCMAKE_SKIP_BUILD_RPATH=ON $cmakeFlags"
 
     echo "cmake flags: $cmakeFlags ${cmakeFlagsArray[@]}"