diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 0fdc228c9e..e6cf1b72ce 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -302,6 +302,11 @@ set(TRACCC_ALGEBRA_PLUGINS ARRAY CACHE STRING "Algebra plugin to use in the buil
 message(STATUS "Building with plugin type: " ${TRACCC_ALGEBRA_PLUGINS})
 add_definitions(-DALGEBRA_PLUGINS_INCLUDE_${TRACCC_ALGEBRA_PLUGINS})
 
+# Inform the code that it is being build in Release mode.
+if (${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE} STREQUAL "Release")
+   add_definitions(-DTRACCC_BUILD_TYPE_IS_RELEASE)
+endif()
+
 # Build the traccc code.
 add_subdirectory( core )
 add_subdirectory( device/common )
diff --git a/examples/run/common/optimization_warning.hpp b/examples/run/common/optimization_warning.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b6076e92c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/run/common/optimization_warning.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+/** TRACCC library, part of the ACTS project (R&D line)
+ *
+ * (c) 2022 CERN for the benefit of the ACTS project
+ *
+ * Mozilla Public License Version 2.0
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <iostream>
+
+#if !defined(TRACCC_BUILD_TYPE_IS_RELEASE) || !defined(NDEBUG) || \
+    defined(_DEBUG)
+#define TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING()                                          \
+    do {                                                                       \
+        std::cout                                                              \
+            << "WARNING: traccc was built without Release mode, with out the " \
+               "`NDEBUG` flag, or (on MSVC) with the `_DEBUG` flag. "          \
+               "Performance is guaranteed to be much lower and compute "       \
+               "performance results should be considered unreliable!"          \
+            << std::endl;                                                      \
+    } while (false)
+#else
+#define TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING() \
+    do {                              \
+    } while (false)
+#endif
diff --git a/examples/run/common/throughput_mt.ipp b/examples/run/common/throughput_mt.ipp
index 5e679b941c..597e8f4d6a 100644
--- a/examples/run/common/throughput_mt.ipp
+++ b/examples/run/common/throughput_mt.ipp
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@
 #include "traccc/options/track_propagation.hpp"
 #include "traccc/options/track_seeding.hpp"
 
+// Local include(s)
+#include "../common/optimization_warning.hpp"
+
 // I/O include(s).
 #include "traccc/io/demonstrator_edm.hpp"
 #include "traccc/io/read.hpp"
@@ -72,6 +75,8 @@ int throughput_mt(std::string_view description, int argc, char* argv[],
         argc,
         argv};
 
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
+
     // Set up the timing info holder.
     performance::timing_info times;
 
@@ -242,6 +247,7 @@ int throughput_mt(std::string_view description, int argc, char* argv[],
     // Print some results.
     std::cout << "Reconstructed track parameters: " << rec_track_params.load()
               << std::endl;
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
     std::cout << "Time totals:" << std::endl;
     std::cout << times << std::endl;
     std::cout << "Throughput:" << std::endl;
@@ -251,6 +257,7 @@ int throughput_mt(std::string_view description, int argc, char* argv[],
               << performance::throughput{throughput_opts.processed_events,
                                          times, "Event processing"}
               << std::endl;
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
 
     // Print results to log file
     if (throughput_opts.log_file != "\0") {
diff --git a/examples/run/common/throughput_st.ipp b/examples/run/common/throughput_st.ipp
index ad605e4f56..4988de7800 100644
--- a/examples/run/common/throughput_st.ipp
+++ b/examples/run/common/throughput_st.ipp
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
 #include "traccc/options/track_propagation.hpp"
 #include "traccc/options/track_seeding.hpp"
 
+// Local include(s)
+#include "../common/optimization_warning.hpp"
+
 // I/O include(s).
 #include "traccc/io/demonstrator_edm.hpp"
 #include "traccc/io/read.hpp"
@@ -62,6 +65,8 @@ int throughput_st(std::string_view description, int argc, char* argv[],
         argc,
         argv};
 
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
+
     // Set up the timing info holder.
     performance::timing_info times;
 
@@ -192,6 +197,7 @@ int throughput_st(std::string_view description, int argc, char* argv[],
     // Print some results.
     std::cout << "Reconstructed track parameters: " << rec_track_params
               << std::endl;
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
     std::cout << "Time totals:" << std::endl;
     std::cout << times << std::endl;
     std::cout << "Throughput:" << std::endl;
@@ -201,6 +207,7 @@ int throughput_st(std::string_view description, int argc, char* argv[],
               << performance::throughput{throughput_opts.processed_events,
                                          times, "Event processing"}
               << std::endl;
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
 
     // Return gracefully.
     return 0;
diff --git a/examples/run/cpu/ccl_example.cpp b/examples/run/cpu/ccl_example.cpp
index db6dbac9c7..eebdad23a1 100644
--- a/examples/run/cpu/ccl_example.cpp
+++ b/examples/run/cpu/ccl_example.cpp
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@
 #include "traccc/edm/cell.hpp"
 #include "traccc/io/read_cells.hpp"
 
+// Local include(s).
+#include "../common/optimization_warning.hpp"
+
 // VecMem include(s).
 #include <vecmem/memory/host_memory_resource.hpp>
 
@@ -95,6 +98,8 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
         return -1;
     }
 
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
+
     std::string event_file = std::string(argv[1]);
 
     std::cout << "Running " << argv[0] << " on " << event_file << std::endl;
@@ -129,6 +134,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
 
     auto time_process_p4 = std::chrono::high_resolution_clock::now();
 
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
     std::cout << "\nCPU budget allocation" << std::endl;
     std::cout << std::fixed;
     std::cout << std::setw(13) << "Component"
@@ -155,6 +161,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
               << " | " << std::setw(10) << std::setprecision(3)
               << delta_ms(time_read_start, time_process_p4) << " ms"
               << std::endl;
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/examples/run/cpu/seeding_example.cpp b/examples/run/cpu/seeding_example.cpp
index 12fc464fa4..31ec8fbc99 100644
--- a/examples/run/cpu/seeding_example.cpp
+++ b/examples/run/cpu/seeding_example.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
 #include "traccc/definitions/common.hpp"
 #include "traccc/definitions/primitives.hpp"
 
+// Local include(s).
+#include "../common/optimization_warning.hpp"
+
 // io
 #include "traccc/io/read_geometry.hpp"
 #include "traccc/io/read_measurements.hpp"
@@ -261,6 +264,7 @@ int seq_run(const traccc::opts::track_seeding& seeding_opts,
         }
     }
 
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
     std::cout << "==> Statistics ... " << std::endl;
     std::cout << "- read    " << n_spacepoints << " spacepoints" << std::endl;
     std::cout << "- read    " << n_measurements << " measurements" << std::endl;
@@ -276,6 +280,7 @@ int seq_run(const traccc::opts::track_seeding& seeding_opts,
     } else {
         std::cout << "- ambiguity resolution: deactivated" << std::endl;
     }
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
 
     return EXIT_SUCCESS;
 }
diff --git a/examples/run/cpu/seq_example.cpp b/examples/run/cpu/seq_example.cpp
index 44dbe496ed..d1b245d147 100644
--- a/examples/run/cpu/seq_example.cpp
+++ b/examples/run/cpu/seq_example.cpp
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@
 #include "traccc/io/utils.hpp"
 #include "traccc/io/write.hpp"
 
+// Local include(s).
+#include "../common/optimization_warning.hpp"
+
 // algorithms
 #include "traccc/ambiguity_resolution/greedy_ambiguity_resolution_algorithm.hpp"
 #include "traccc/clusterization/clusterization_algorithm.hpp"
@@ -336,6 +339,7 @@ int seq_run(const traccc::opts::input_data& input_opts,
         }
     }
 
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
     std::cout << "==> Statistics ... " << std::endl;
     std::cout << "- read     " << n_cells << " cells from " << n_modules
               << " modules" << std::endl;
@@ -349,6 +353,7 @@ int seq_run(const traccc::opts::input_data& input_opts,
     std::cout << "- resolved " << n_ambiguity_free_tracks << " tracks"
               << std::endl;
     std::cout << "==> Elapsed times...\n" << elapsedTimes << std::endl;
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
 
     return EXIT_SUCCESS;
 }
diff --git a/examples/run/cuda/seeding_example_cuda.cpp b/examples/run/cuda/seeding_example_cuda.cpp
index 4df4db85b4..1bde7fec77 100644
--- a/examples/run/cuda/seeding_example_cuda.cpp
+++ b/examples/run/cuda/seeding_example_cuda.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@
 #include "traccc/seeding/seeding_algorithm.hpp"
 #include "traccc/seeding/track_params_estimation.hpp"
 
+// Local include(s).
+#include "../common/optimization_warning.hpp"
+
 // Detray include(s).
 #include "detray/core/detector.hpp"
 #include "detray/core/detector_metadata.hpp"
@@ -455,6 +458,7 @@ int seq_run(const traccc::opts::track_seeding& seeding_opts,
         std::cout << nsd_performance_writer.generate_report_str();
     }
 
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
     std::cout << "==> Statistics ... " << std::endl;
     std::cout << "- read    " << n_spacepoints << " spacepoints from "
               << n_modules << " modules" << std::endl;
@@ -469,6 +473,7 @@ int seq_run(const traccc::opts::track_seeding& seeding_opts,
     std::cout << "- created (cuda) " << n_fitted_tracks_cuda << " fitted tracks"
               << std::endl;
     std::cout << "==>Elapsed times...\n" << elapsedTimes << std::endl;
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/examples/run/cuda/seq_example_cuda.cpp b/examples/run/cuda/seq_example_cuda.cpp
index f8442559c1..4c7787c8f9 100644
--- a/examples/run/cuda/seq_example_cuda.cpp
+++ b/examples/run/cuda/seq_example_cuda.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@
 #include "traccc/seeding/seeding_algorithm.hpp"
 #include "traccc/seeding/track_params_estimation.hpp"
 
+// Local include(s).
+#include "../common/optimization_warning.hpp"
+
 // Detray include(s).
 #include "detray/core/detector.hpp"
 #include "detray/detectors/bfield.hpp"
@@ -492,6 +495,7 @@ int seq_run(const traccc::opts::detector& detector_opts,
         sd_performance_writer.finalize();
     }
 
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
     std::cout << "==> Statistics ... " << std::endl;
     std::cout << "- read    " << n_cells << " cells from " << n_modules
               << " modules" << std::endl;
@@ -515,6 +519,7 @@ int seq_run(const traccc::opts::detector& detector_opts,
     std::cout << "- fitted (cuda)  " << n_fitted_tracks_cuda << " tracks"
               << std::endl;
     std::cout << "==>Elapsed times...\n" << elapsedTimes << std::endl;
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/examples/run/cuda/truth_finding_example_cuda.cpp b/examples/run/cuda/truth_finding_example_cuda.cpp
index a12270a26e..c7dafb227e 100644
--- a/examples/run/cuda/truth_finding_example_cuda.cpp
+++ b/examples/run/cuda/truth_finding_example_cuda.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@
 #include "traccc/resolution/fitting_performance_writer.hpp"
 #include "traccc/utils/seed_generator.hpp"
 
+// Local include(s).
+#include "../common/optimization_warning.hpp"
+
 // detray include(s).
 #include "detray/core/detector.hpp"
 #include "detray/core/detector_metadata.hpp"
@@ -331,6 +334,7 @@ int seq_run(const traccc::opts::track_finding& finding_opts,
         fit_performance_writer.finalize();
     }
 
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
     std::cout << "==> Statistics ... " << std::endl;
     std::cout << "- created (cuda) " << n_found_tracks_cuda << " found tracks"
               << std::endl;
@@ -341,6 +345,7 @@ int seq_run(const traccc::opts::track_finding& finding_opts,
     std::cout << "- created  (cpu) " << n_fitted_tracks << " fitted tracks"
               << std::endl;
     std::cout << "==>Elapsed times...\n" << elapsedTimes << std::endl;
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
 
     return 1;
 }
diff --git a/examples/run/cuda/truth_fitting_example_cuda.cpp b/examples/run/cuda/truth_fitting_example_cuda.cpp
index 7d5f485e79..4c4a888112 100644
--- a/examples/run/cuda/truth_fitting_example_cuda.cpp
+++ b/examples/run/cuda/truth_fitting_example_cuda.cpp
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@
 #include "traccc/resolution/fitting_performance_writer.hpp"
 #include "traccc/utils/seed_generator.hpp"
 
+// Local include(s).
+#include "../common/optimization_warning.hpp"
+
 // detray include(s).
 #include "detray/core/detector.hpp"
 #include "detray/core/detector_metadata.hpp"
@@ -249,12 +252,14 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
         fit_performance_writer.finalize();
     }
 
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
     std::cout << "==> Statistics ... " << std::endl;
     std::cout << "- created (cuda) " << n_fitted_tracks_cuda << " fitted tracks"
               << std::endl;
     std::cout << "- created  (cpu) " << n_fitted_tracks << " fitted tracks"
               << std::endl;
     std::cout << "==>Elapsed times...\n" << elapsedTimes << std::endl;
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
 
     return EXIT_SUCCESS;
 }
diff --git a/examples/run/kokkos/seeding_example_kokkos.cpp b/examples/run/kokkos/seeding_example_kokkos.cpp
index f3e338200d..bf805fe5f7 100644
--- a/examples/run/kokkos/seeding_example_kokkos.cpp
+++ b/examples/run/kokkos/seeding_example_kokkos.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@
 #include "traccc/seeding/seeding_algorithm.hpp"
 #include "traccc/seeding/track_params_estimation.hpp"
 
+// Local include(s).
+#include "../common/optimization_warning.hpp"
+
 // VecMem include(s).
 #include <vecmem/memory/host_memory_resource.hpp>
 
@@ -135,6 +138,7 @@ int seq_run(const traccc::opts::track_seeding& seeding_opts,
         sd_performance_writer.finalize();
     }
 
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
     std::cout << "==> Statistics ... " << std::endl;
     std::cout << "- read    " << n_spacepoints << " spacepoints from "
               << n_modules << " modules" << std::endl;
@@ -142,6 +146,7 @@ int seq_run(const traccc::opts::track_seeding& seeding_opts,
     std::cout << "- created (kokkos) " << n_seeds_kokkos << " seeds"
               << std::endl;
     std::cout << "==>Elapsed times...\n" << elapsedTimes << std::endl;
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/examples/run/openmp/io_dec_par_example.cpp b/examples/run/openmp/io_dec_par_example.cpp
index ec9d2a8b91..505c312b62 100644
--- a/examples/run/openmp/io_dec_par_example.cpp
+++ b/examples/run/openmp/io_dec_par_example.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@
 #include "traccc/edm/spacepoint.hpp"
 #include "traccc/io/demonstrator_edm.hpp"
 
+// Local include(s).
+#include "../common/optimization_warning.hpp"
+
 // VecMem include(s).
 #include <vecmem/memory/host_memory_resource.hpp>
 
@@ -88,8 +91,10 @@ traccc::demonstrator_result run(traccc::demonstrator_input input_data,
 
     auto endAlgorithms = std::chrono::system_clock::now();
     std::chrono::duration<double> diffAlgo = endAlgorithms - startAlgorithms;
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
     std::cout << "Algorithms time: " << diffAlgo.count() << " sec."
               << std::endl;
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
 
     std::cout << "==> Statistics ... " << std::endl;
     std::cout << "- read    " << n_cells << " cells from " << n_modules
@@ -148,6 +153,8 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
 
     auto end = std::chrono::system_clock::now();
     std::chrono::duration<double> diff = end - start;
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
     std::cout << "Total execution time: " << diff.count() << " sec."
               << std::endl;
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
 }
diff --git a/examples/run/openmp/par_example.cpp b/examples/run/openmp/par_example.cpp
index a50a0d7f68..2bbbc34335 100644
--- a/examples/run/openmp/par_example.cpp
+++ b/examples/run/openmp/par_example.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
 #include "traccc/io/read_digitization_config.hpp"
 #include "traccc/io/read_geometry.hpp"
 
+// Local include(s).
+#include "../common/optimization_warning.hpp"
+
 // VecMem include(s).
 #include <vecmem/memory/host_memory_resource.hpp>
 
@@ -163,6 +166,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     auto end = std::chrono::system_clock::now();
 
     std::chrono::duration<double> diff = end - start;
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
     std::cout << "Execution time: " << diff.count() << " sec." << std::endl;
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
     return result;
 }
diff --git a/examples/run/sycl/seeding_example_sycl.sycl b/examples/run/sycl/seeding_example_sycl.sycl
index 2090ec9ac7..0b1d7b621c 100644
--- a/examples/run/sycl/seeding_example_sycl.sycl
+++ b/examples/run/sycl/seeding_example_sycl.sycl
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@
 // SYCL include(s)
 #include <CL/sycl.hpp>
 
+// Local include(s).
+#include "../common/optimization_warning.hpp"
+
 // algorithms
 #include "traccc/seeding/seeding_algorithm.hpp"
 #include "traccc/seeding/track_params_estimation.hpp"
@@ -264,12 +267,14 @@ int seq_run(const traccc::opts::track_seeding& seeding_opts,
         sd_performance_writer.finalize();
     }
 
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
     std::cout << "==> Statistics ... " << std::endl;
     std::cout << "- read    " << n_spacepoints << " spacepoints from "
               << n_modules << " modules" << std::endl;
     std::cout << "- created  (cpu)  " << n_seeds << " seeds" << std::endl;
     std::cout << "- created (sycl) " << n_seeds_sycl << " seeds" << std::endl;
     std::cout << "==>Elapsed times...\n" << elapsedTimes << std::endl;
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/examples/run/sycl/seq_example_sycl.sycl b/examples/run/sycl/seq_example_sycl.sycl
index 0515475feb..f2ad612dd7 100644
--- a/examples/run/sycl/seq_example_sycl.sycl
+++ b/examples/run/sycl/seq_example_sycl.sycl
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@
 // SYCL include(s)
 #include <CL/sycl.hpp>
 
+// Local include(s).
+#include "../common/optimization_warning.hpp"
+
 // io
 #include "traccc/io/read_cells.hpp"
 #include "traccc/io/read_digitization_config.hpp"
@@ -332,6 +335,7 @@ int seq_run(const traccc::opts::detector& detector_opts,
         sd_performance_writer.finalize();
     }
 
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
     std::cout << "==> Statistics ... " << std::endl;
     std::cout << "- read    " << n_cells << " cells from " << n_modules
               << " modules" << std::endl;
@@ -345,6 +349,7 @@ int seq_run(const traccc::opts::detector& detector_opts,
     std::cout << "- created  (cpu) " << n_seeds << " seeds" << std::endl;
     std::cout << "- created (sycl) " << n_seeds_sycl << " seeds" << std::endl;
     std::cout << "==>Elapsed times...\n" << elapsedTimes << std::endl;
+    TRACCC_OPTIMIZATION_WARNING();
 
     return 0;
 }