diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index a2bf856b9c..bc946e2a34 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -91,7 +91,12 @@ set(ZIG_TARGET_MCPU "baseline" CACHE STRING "-mcpu parameter to output binaries
 set(ZIG_EXECUTABLE "" CACHE STRING "(when cross compiling) path to already-built zig binary")
 set(ZIG_SINGLE_THREADED off CACHE BOOL "limit the zig compiler to use only 1 thread")
 set(ZIG_OMIT_STAGE2 off CACHE BOOL "omit the stage2 backend from stage1")
-set(ZIG_ENABLE_LOGGING off CACHE BOOL "enable logging")
+
+if("${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE}" STREQUAL "Debug")
+    set(ZIG_ENABLE_LOGGING ON CACHE BOOL "enable logging")
+else()
+    set(ZIG_ENABLE_LOGGING OFF CACHE BOOL "enable logging")
+endif()
 
 if("${ZIG_TARGET_TRIPLE}" STREQUAL "native")
     set(ZIG_USE_LLVM_CONFIG ON CACHE BOOL "use llvm-config to find LLVM libraries")