diff --git a/docker/common/install_nixl.sh b/docker/common/install_nixl.sh
index 4573fc2987c..52980882a74 100644
--- a/docker/common/install_nixl.sh
+++ b/docker/common/install_nixl.sh
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ meson setup builddir \
     -Dcudapath_lib="$CUDA_PATH/lib64" \
     -Dcudapath_inc="$CUDA_PATH/include" \
     -Dgds_path="$GDS_PATH" \
-    -Dinstall_headers=true
+    -Dinstall_headers=true \
+    --buildtype=release
 
 cd builddir && ninja install
 cd ../..