diff --git a/CMake/retrofw_defs.cmake b/CMake/retrofw_defs.cmake
index 323abc5e6..3ffa2d117 100644
--- a/CMake/retrofw_defs.cmake
+++ b/CMake/retrofw_defs.cmake
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ set(NONET ON)
 set(USE_SDL1 ON)
 set(PREFILL_PLAYER_NAME ON)
 set(HAS_KBCTRL 1)
+set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE} -O3")
 set(KBCTRL_BUTTON_DPAD_LEFT SDLK_LEFT)
 set(KBCTRL_BUTTON_DPAD_RIGHT SDLK_RIGHT)
 set(KBCTRL_BUTTON_DPAD_UP SDLK_UP)