diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 20c5d0d..b042c21 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -17,7 +17,11 @@ file(MAKE_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/build/external)
 #find_package(OpenMP REQUIRED)
 
 ##Polyscope
-set(USE_POLYSCOPE FALSE)
+if(${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE} STREQUAL "Release")
+        set(USE_POLYSCOPE FALSE)
+else()
+        set(USE_POLYSCOPE TRUE)
+endif()
 if(${USE_POLYSCOPE})
 download_project(PROJ               POLYSCOPE
                  GIT_REPOSITORY     https://github.com/nmwsharp/polyscope.git