diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index c87df8d70..ae11f8c5c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ jobs:
           ninja
 
     - name: Configure using CMake
-      run: cmake -Bbuild -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=$CONDA_PREFIX -DBUILD_TESTS=ON -G Ninja
+      run: cmake -Bbuild -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE:STRING=Release -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=$CONDA_PREFIX -DBUILD_TESTS=ON -G Ninja
 
     - name: Install
       working-directory: build