diff --git a/COMPILING.md b/COMPILING.md
index 759dd2e9c4..145b244753 100644
--- a/COMPILING.md
+++ b/COMPILING.md
@@ -81,6 +81,9 @@ cmake ..
 make
 ```
 
+For more information on how to use CMake (including how to make Release builds),
+we urge you to read [their excellent manual](https://cmake.org/cmake/help/latest/guide/user-interaction/index.html).
+
 ## Supported compilers
 
 Every compiler that is supported by CMake and supports C++17, should be