diff --git a/code/CMakeModules/nel.cmake b/code/CMakeModules/nel.cmake
index 0474c7d7b..fd7004884 100644
--- a/code/CMakeModules/nel.cmake
+++ b/code/CMakeModules/nel.cmake
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ IF(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
   SET(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE "Release" CACHE STRING "" FORCE)
 ENDIF(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
 
+# Declare CMAKE_CONFIGURATION_TYPES before PROJECT
+SET(CMAKE_CONFIGURATION_TYPES "Debug;Release" CACHE STRING "" FORCE)
+
 ###
 # Helper macro that generates .pc and installs it.
 # Argument: name - the name of the .pc package, e.g. "nel-pacs.pc"
@@ -384,8 +387,6 @@ MACRO(NL_SETUP_BUILD)
   # Debug                 = NL_DEBUG
   # Release               = NL_RELEASE
 
-  SET(CMAKE_CONFIGURATION_TYPES "Debug;Release" CACHE STRING "" FORCE)
-
   IF(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE MATCHES "Debug")
     SET(NL_BUILD_MODE "NL_DEBUG")
   ELSE(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE MATCHES "Debug")