diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
index d5780b481a..6a198c7b79 100755
--- a/build.sh
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ VERBOSE_FLAG=""
 BUILD_TESTS=ON
 BUILD_MG_ALGOS=ON
 BUILD_MNMG_TESTS=OFF
-BUILD_TYPE=Release
+BUILD_TYPE=${LIBCUVS_BUILD_TYPE:=Release}
 COMPILE_LIBRARY=OFF
 INSTALL_TARGET=install
 BUILD_REPORT_METRICS=""
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ if (( NUMARGS == 0 )) || hasArg libcuvs || hasArg tests || hasArg bench-prims ||
     cmake -S "${REPODIR}"/cpp -B "${LIBCUVS_BUILD_DIR}" \
           -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="${INSTALL_PREFIX}" \
           -DCMAKE_CUDA_ARCHITECTURES="${CUVS_CMAKE_CUDA_ARCHITECTURES}" \
-          -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${BUILD_TYPE} \
+          -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="${BUILD_TYPE}" \
           -DBUILD_C_LIBRARY=${COMPILE_LIBRARY} \
           -DCUVS_NVTX=${NVTX} \
           -DCUDA_LOG_COMPILE_TIME=${LOG_COMPILE_TIME} \