diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 939764568..2eadc3942 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -12,8 +12,7 @@ IF (UNIX)
 SET (D3_GAMEDIR "~/Descent3/")
 
   SET(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER "g++")
-  SET(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "-O0 -g -Wno-write-strings -Wno-multichar -Wno-address-of-temporary")
-  SET(CMAKE_C_FLAGS "-O0 -g")
+  STRING(APPEND CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS " -Wno-write-strings -Wno-multichar -Wno-address-of-temporary")
   SET(CMAKE_C_COMPILER "gcc")
   IF (NOT APPLE)
     LIST(APPEND CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "-m32")