diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2f7896d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+target/
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 5c61ac8..4d8748d 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -43,8 +43,15 @@ subdir('po')
 subdir('resources')
 subdir('src')
 
+if get_option('buildtype') == 'debug'
+  rust_args = []
+  rust_target = 'debug'
+else
+  rust_args = ['--release']
+  rust_target = 'release'
+endif
+
 cargo = find_program('cargo')
-# TODO: cargo release build
 custom_target(
   'cargo-build',
   build_by_default: true,
@@ -53,19 +60,20 @@ custom_target(
     audrey_c,
     blueprints,
   ],
+  console: true,
   output: meson.project_name(),
   command: [
     'env',
-    'CARGO_HOME=' + meson.project_build_root() / 'cargo-home',
     'RUSTFLAGS=-L ' + fs.parent(audrey_c.full_path()),
     'MESON_BUILD_ROOT=' + meson.project_build_root(),
     cargo,
     'build',
+    rust_args,
     '--manifest-path', meson.project_source_root() / 'Cargo.toml',
     '--target-dir', meson.project_build_root() / 'cargo-target',
     '&&',
     'cp',
-    'cargo-target' / 'debug' / meson.project_name(),
+    'cargo-target' / rust_target / meson.project_name(),
     '@OUTPUT@',
   ],
 )