diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 24cb1d0120..868392b972 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -48,7 +48,9 @@ set(CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH "${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/${OPENCV_LIB_INSTALL_PATH}")
 set(CMAKE_INSTALL_RPATH_USE_LINK_PATH TRUE)
 
 set(CMAKE_CONFIGURATION_TYPES "Debug;Release" CACHE STRING "Configs" FORCE)
-set_property( CACHE CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE PROPERTY STRINGS ${CMAKE_CONFIGURATION_TYPES} )
+if(DEFINED CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
+    set_property( CACHE CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE PROPERTY STRINGS ${CMAKE_CONFIGURATION_TYPES} )
+endif()
 
 set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS_MINSIZEREL "" CACHE INTERNAL "" FORCE)
 set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS_RELWITHDEBINFO "" CACHE INTERNAL "" FORCE)