diff --git a/chapter08/systemd.xml b/chapter08/systemd.xml
index 6893a4320..8bc1b959f 100644
--- a/chapter08/systemd.xml
+++ b/chapter08/systemd.xml
@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@ LANG=en_US.UTF-8                    \
 meson --prefix=/usr                 \
       --sysconfdir=/etc             \
       --localstatedir=/var          \
+      --buildtype=release           \
       -Dblkid=true                  \
-      -Dbuildtype=release           \
       -Ddefault-dnssec=no           \
       -Dfirstboot=false             \
       -Dinstall-tests=false         \
@@ -91,6 +91,15 @@ meson --prefix=/usr                 \
     <variablelist>
       <title>The meaning of the meson options:</title>
 
+      <varlistentry>
+        <term><parameter>--buildtype=release</parameter></term>
+        <listitem>
+          <para>This switch overrides the default buildtype
+          (<quote>debug</quote>), which would produce unoptimized
+          binaries.</para>
+        </listitem>
+      </varlistentry>
+
       <varlistentry>
         <term><parameter>-Ddefault-dnssec=no</parameter></term>
         <listitem>