diff --git a/python/sdist/amici/setup.template.py b/python/sdist/amici/setup.template.py
index 80fd3fde2a..c2ce7d5c20 100644
--- a/python/sdist/amici/setup.template.py
+++ b/python/sdist/amici/setup.template.py
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ def get_extension() -> CMakeExtension:
     else:
         os.environ["CMAKE_BUILD_PARALLEL_LEVEL"] = "1"
 
+    debug_build = os.getenv("AMICI_DEBUG", "").lower() in ["1", "true"]
+
     return CMakeExtension(
         name="model_ext",
         source_dir=os.getcwd(),
@@ -37,6 +39,7 @@ def get_extension() -> CMakeExtension:
             "-DAMICI_PYTHON_BUILD_EXT_ONLY=ON",
             f"-DPython3_EXECUTABLE={Path(sys.executable).as_posix()}",
         ],
+        cmake_build_type="Debug" if debug_build else "Release",
     )
 
 
diff --git a/python/sdist/setup.py b/python/sdist/setup.py
index 83bf33237a..a29861ac75 100755
--- a/python/sdist/setup.py
+++ b/python/sdist/setup.py
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ def get_extensions():
         ],
     )
     # AMICI
+    debug_build = os.getenv("AMICI_DEBUG", "").lower() in ["1", "true"]
     amici_ext = CMakeExtension(
         name="amici",
         install_prefix="amici",
@@ -153,6 +154,7 @@ def get_extensions():
             "-DAMICI_PYTHON_BUILD_EXT_ONLY=ON",
             f"-DPython3_EXECUTABLE={Path(sys.executable).as_posix()}",
         ],
+        cmake_build_type="Debug" if debug_build else "Release",
     )
     # Order matters!
     return [suitesparse_config, amd, btf, colamd, klu, sundials, amici_ext]