diff --git a/scripts/uchardet/meson.build b/scripts/uchardet/meson.build
index a7ca18a..f42b16d 100644
--- a/scripts/uchardet/meson.build
+++ b/scripts/uchardet/meson.build
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ options = cmake.subproject_options()
 options.add_cmake_defines({
     'CMAKE_OSX_ARCHITECTURES': arch,
     'CMAKE_OSX_SYSROOT': meson.get_cross_property('cmake_osx_sysroot'),
+    'CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE': 'Release',
     'BUILD_STATIC': false,
 })