diff --git a/packages/dune/package.py b/packages/dune/package.py
index 5175b91..297d3b1 100644
--- a/packages/dune/package.py
+++ b/packages/dune/package.py
@@ -342,6 +342,7 @@ class Dune(CMakePackage):
             return variant_bool(feature, on='OFF', off='ON')
 
         cmake_args = [ 
+            '-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE:STRING=%s' % self.spec.variants['build_type'].value,
             '-DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS:BOOL=%s' % variant_bool('+shared'),
             '-DDUNE_GRID_GRIDTYPE_SELECTOR:BOOL=ON',
             '-DCMAKE_DISABLE_FIND_PACKAGE_Doxygen:BOOL=%s' % nvariant_bool('+doc'),