diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index ceba2841fe..47c3426913 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -76,6 +76,15 @@ Debian_GCC_tests:
     CCACHE_SIZE: 1G
     BUILD_TESTS_ONLY: 1
 
+Debian_GCC_tests_Debug:
+  extends: Debian_GCC
+  cache:
+    key: Debian_GCC_tests_Debug.v1
+  variables:
+    CCACHE_SIZE: 1G
+    BUILD_TESTS_ONLY: 1
+    CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE: Debug
+
 Debian_GCC_Static_Deps:
   extends: Debian_GCC
   cache:
@@ -118,6 +127,15 @@ Debian_Clang_tests:
     CCACHE_SIZE: 1G
     BUILD_TESTS_ONLY: 1
 
+Debian_Clang_tests_Debug:
+  extends: Debian_Clang
+  cache:
+    key: Debian_Clang_tests_Debug.v1
+  variables:
+    CCACHE_SIZE: 1G
+    BUILD_TESTS_ONLY: 1
+    CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE: Debug
+
 .MacOS:
   image: macos-11-xcode-12
   tags:
diff --git a/CI/before_script.linux.sh b/CI/before_script.linux.sh
index 17292e4e98..4344b5212f 100755
--- a/CI/before_script.linux.sh
+++ b/CI/before_script.linux.sh
@@ -34,6 +34,12 @@ if [[ $CI_OPENMW_USE_STATIC_DEPS ]]; then
     )
 fi
 
+if [[ "${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE}" ]]; then
+    CMAKE_CONF_OPTS+=(
+        -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE}
+    )
+fi
+
 mkdir -p build
 cd build