diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 6376c432..06c08e56 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG} -DRW_DEBUG=1")
 set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -std=c++14 -Wall -pthread -Wextra -Wpedantic -Wdouble-promotion")
 set(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${CMAKE_MODULE_PATH} "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/modules")
 
-set(RW_VERBOSE_DEBUG_MESSAGES 1 CACHE BOOL "Print verbose debugging messages")
+option(RW_VERBOSE_DEBUG_MESSAGES "Print verbose debugging messages" ON)
 
 # Optional components
 option(BUILD_TESTS "Build test suite")
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ option(ENABLE_SCRIPT_DEBUG "Enable verbose script execution")
 option(ENABLE_PROFILING "Enable detailed profiling metrics")
 option(TESTS_NODATA "Build tests for no-data testing")
 
-set(FAILED_CHECK_ACTION "IGNORE" CACHE STRING "What action to perform on a failed RW_CHECK (IGNORE, ABORT or BREAKPOINT) (only in debug mode)")
+set(FAILED_CHECK_ACTION "IGNORE" CACHE STRING "What action to perform on a failed RW_CHECK (in debug mode)")
+set_property(CACHE FAILED_CHECK_ACTION PROPERTY STRINGS "IGNORE" "ABORT" "BREAKPOINT")
 
 #
 # Build configuration