diff --git a/python/build-wheels.sh b/python/build-wheels.sh
index adf46c1995..8f1094265d 100644
--- a/python/build-wheels.sh
+++ b/python/build-wheels.sh
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ set -e -x
 # Compile C++ code
 cd /io/build
 cmake ..
-make -DNDEBUG
+make CFLAGS="-DNDEBUG" CXXFLAGS="-DNDEBUG"
 
 # Compile wheels
 for PYBIN in /opt/python/*/bin; do