diff --git a/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index d09b9da..b43f406 100644
--- a/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ include_directories(
 	../include/compat
 )
 
+# force 'Debug' build type for tests to not disable asserts
+set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE "Debug")
+
 add_definitions(-D_PATH_SSL_CA_FILE=\"${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../cert.pem\")
 
 file(TO_NATIVE_PATH ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR} TEST_SOURCE_DIR)