diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 9fd8fbc880..2c7131df08 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ if(CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR STREQUAL CMAKE_BINARY_DIR)
     message(FATAL_ERROR "In-source builds not allowed. Please run \"cmake ..\" from the bin directory")
 endif()
 
+# Debug mode by default.
+if(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
+    set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE Debug)
+endif()
+
 set(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${CMAKE_MODULE_PATH} "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake")
 set(CMAKE_OSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET 10.9)