diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index 93aeb334..7b021bda 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ opts = Variables(None, ARGUMENTS)
 
 opts.Add(EnumVariable('OS', "Target platform", str(Platform()), ('darwin', 'win32', 'posix')))
 opts.Add('toolset', "Toolset to pass to the SCons builder", 'default')
-opts.Add(BoolVariable('debug', "Build with debug symbols and no optimization", True))
+opts.Add(BoolVariable('release', "Build with optimization and no debug symbols", False))
 opts.Add(EnumVariable('bits', "Build for 32-bit or 64-bit architectures", '64', ('32', '64')))
 
 # Partial build flags -- by default, all targets will be built,
@@ -36,6 +36,16 @@ opts.Add("LINKFLAGS", "Custom flags for the linker")
 env = Environment(variables=opts, ENV=os.environ)
 Help(opts.GenerateHelpText(env))
 
+# Source: https://github.com/godotengine/godot-cpp/blob/a42b3634d20b4e7088be721792bba1199277362c/SConstruct#L36
+if opts.UnknownVariables():
+	unknown = opts.UnknownVariables()
+	if unknown:
+		print("WARNING: Unknown SCons variables were passed and will be ignored:")
+		for item in unknown.items():
+			print("    " + item[0] + "=" + item[1])
+			if item[0] == 'debug':
+				print('        NOTE: Debug builds are now the default. Pass `release=true` if you need a release build.')
+
 platform = env['OS']
 toolset = env['toolset']
 arch = 'x86_64' if (env['bits'] == '64') else 'x86'
@@ -75,7 +85,7 @@ env.VariantDir('#build/obj', 'src')
 env.VariantDir('#build/obj/test', 'test')
 env.VariantDir('#build/obj/test/deps', 'deps')
 
-if env['debug']:
+if not env['release']:
 	if platform in ['posix', 'darwin']:
 		env.Append(CCFLAGS=['-g','-O0'])
 	elif platform == 'win32':
diff --git a/src/game/SConscript b/src/game/SConscript
index cd0998da..3b2e14e5 100644
--- a/src/game/SConscript
+++ b/src/game/SConscript
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ elif str(platform) == "posix":
 
 boe = env.Program("#build/bin/Blades of Exile", game_sources + party_classes + common_sources)
 debug_symbols = None
-if str(platform) == "win32" and 'msvc' in env["TOOLS"] and env['debug']:
+if str(platform) == "win32" and 'msvc' in env["TOOLS"] and not env['release']:
 	debug_symbols = boe[0].abspath.replace('.exe', '.pdb')
 
 if str(platform) == "darwin":
diff --git a/src/pcedit/SConscript b/src/pcedit/SConscript
index 1f3b996f..38afdb9b 100644
--- a/src/pcedit/SConscript
+++ b/src/pcedit/SConscript
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ elif str(platform) == "posix":
 
 pced = env.Program("#build/bin/BoE Character Editor", pced_sources + party_classes + common_sources)
 debug_symbols = None
-if str(platform) == "win32" and 'msvc' in env["TOOLS"] and env['debug']:
+if str(platform) == "win32" and 'msvc' in env["TOOLS"] and not env['release']:
 	debug_symbols = pced[0].abspath.replace('.exe', '.pdb')
 
 if str(platform) == "darwin":
diff --git a/src/scenedit/SConscript b/src/scenedit/SConscript
index f1082331..e0b7958a 100644
--- a/src/scenedit/SConscript
+++ b/src/scenedit/SConscript
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ elif str(platform) == "posix":
 
 scened = env.Program("#build/bin/BoE Scenario Editor", scened_sources + common_sources)
 debug_symbols = None
-if str(platform) == "win32" and 'msvc' in env["TOOLS"] and env['debug']:
+if str(platform) == "win32" and 'msvc' in env["TOOLS"] and not env['release']:
 	debug_symbols = scened[0].abspath.replace('.exe', '.pdb')
 
 if str(platform) == "darwin":
diff --git a/test/SConscript b/test/SConscript
index 42fa5265..04767ee5 100644
--- a/test/SConscript
+++ b/test/SConscript
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ test_sources = Glob("""*.cpp""") + Split("""
 debug_symbols = None
 if str(platform) == "win32" and 'msvc' in env["TOOLS"]:
 	link_flags = f'/nologo /SUBSYSTEM:CONSOLE /MACHINE:X{arch_short}'
-	if env['debug']:
+	if not env['release']:
 		link_flags += ' /DEBUG'
 	test = env.Program("#build/bin/boe_test", party_classes + common_sources + test_sources, LINKFLAGS=link_flags)
-	if env['debug']:
+	if not env['release']:
 		debug_symbols = test[0].abspath.replace(".exe", ".pdb")
 else:
 	test = env.Program("#build/bin/boe_test", test_sources + party_classes + common_sources)