diff --git a/reactos/toolchain-msvc.cmake b/reactos/toolchain-msvc.cmake
index cf675a5a975..e0f2b2b8b35 100644
--- a/reactos/toolchain-msvc.cmake
+++ b/reactos/toolchain-msvc.cmake
@@ -3,6 +3,12 @@ if(NOT ARCH)
     set(ARCH i386)
 endif()
 
+# Default to Debug for the build type
+if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
+    set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE "Debug" CACHE STRING
+        "Choose the type of build, options are: None(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS or CMAKE_C_FLAGS used) Debug Release RelWithDebInfo MinSizeRel.")
+endif()
+
 # the name of the target operating system
 set(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME Windows)
 set(CMAKE_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR i686)