diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index e474463..d2b999d 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ if (MSVC)
     set_source_files_properties(${src} PROPERTIES LANGUAGE CXX)
 endif()
 
-string(REPLACE "-O3" "-O2" CMAKE_C_FLAGS_RELEASE "${CMAKE_C_FLAGS_RELEASE}")
 
 add_library                     (leptonica ${src} ${hdr})
 set_target_properties           (leptonica PROPERTIES VERSION   ${VERSION_PLAIN})