diff --git a/src/gt4py/next/otf/compilation/build_systems/cmake.py b/src/gt4py/next/otf/compilation/build_systems/cmake.py
index 3d36f5d985..b653498c50 100644
--- a/src/gt4py/next/otf/compilation/build_systems/cmake.py
+++ b/src/gt4py/next/otf/compilation/build_systems/cmake.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class CMakeFactory(
     """Create a CMakeProject from a ``CompilableSource`` stage object with given CMake settings."""
 
     cmake_generator_name: str = "Ninja"
-    cmake_build_type: BuildType = BuildType.DEBUG
+    cmake_build_type: BuildType = BuildType.RELEASE
     cmake_extra_flags: Optional[list[str]] = None
 
     def __call__(
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ class CMakeProject(
     source_files: dict[str, str]
     program_name: str
     generator_name: str = "Ninja"
-    build_type: BuildType = BuildType.DEBUG
+    build_type: BuildType = BuildType.RELEASE
     extra_cmake_flags: list[str] = dataclasses.field(default_factory=list)
 
     def build(self):
diff --git a/src/gt4py/next/otf/compilation/build_systems/compiledb.py b/src/gt4py/next/otf/compilation/build_systems/compiledb.py
index 84a69859c0..e3b3f8686b 100644
--- a/src/gt4py/next/otf/compilation/build_systems/compiledb.py
+++ b/src/gt4py/next/otf/compilation/build_systems/compiledb.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class CompiledbFactory(
     Generate a compiledb only if there isn't one for the given combination of cmake configuration and library dependencies.
     """
 
-    cmake_build_type: cmake.BuildType = cmake.BuildType.DEBUG
+    cmake_build_type: cmake.BuildType = cmake.BuildType.RELEASE
     cmake_extra_flags: list[str] = dataclasses.field(default_factory=list)
     renew_compiledb: bool = False