diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index de11a4d3e0c..b2f7d7798cd 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -205,10 +205,10 @@ check_linker_supports_pie(configure_warnings)
 # It is a usage requirement for all targets except for secp256k1, which
 # gets its flags by other means.
 add_library(core_interface INTERFACE)
-add_library(core_interface_relwithdebinfo INTERFACE)
+add_library(core_interface_depends INTERFACE)
 add_library(core_interface_debug INTERFACE)
 target_link_libraries(core_interface INTERFACE
-  $<$<CONFIG:RelWithDebInfo>:core_interface_relwithdebinfo>
+  $<$<CONFIG:Depends>:core_interface_depends>
   $<$<CONFIG:Debug>:core_interface_debug>
 )
 
@@ -576,8 +576,7 @@ else()
 endif()
 
 target_compile_definitions(core_interface INTERFACE ${DEPENDS_COMPILE_DEFINITIONS})
-target_compile_definitions(core_interface_relwithdebinfo INTERFACE ${DEPENDS_COMPILE_DEFINITIONS_RELWITHDEBINFO})
-target_compile_definitions(core_interface_debug INTERFACE ${DEPENDS_COMPILE_DEFINITIONS_DEBUG})
+target_compile_definitions(core_interface_depends INTERFACE ${DEPENDS_CONFIG_COMPILE_DEFINITIONS})
 
 # If the {CXX,LD}FLAGS environment variables are defined during building depends
 # and configuring this build system, their content might be duplicated.
diff --git a/depends/Makefile b/depends/Makefile
index 2841d50ae4a..7ea989ce842 100644
--- a/depends/Makefile
+++ b/depends/Makefile
@@ -215,17 +215,13 @@ $(host_prefix)/toolchain.cmake : toolchain.cmake.in $(host_prefix)/.stamp_$(fina
             -e 's|@OBJCOPY@|$(host_OBJCOPY)|' \
             -e 's|@OBJDUMP@|$(host_OBJDUMP)|' \
             -e 's|@CFLAGS@|$(strip $(host_CFLAGS))|' \
-            -e 's|@CFLAGS_RELEASE@|$(strip $(host_release_CFLAGS))|' \
-            -e 's|@CFLAGS_DEBUG@|$(strip $(host_debug_CFLAGS))|' \
+            -e 's|@CFLAGS_DEPENDS_CONFIG@|$(strip $(host_$(release_type)_CFLAGS))|' \
             -e 's|@CXXFLAGS@|$(strip $(host_CXXFLAGS))|' \
-            -e 's|@CXXFLAGS_RELEASE@|$(strip $(host_release_CXXFLAGS))|' \
-            -e 's|@CXXFLAGS_DEBUG@|$(strip $(host_debug_CXXFLAGS))|' \
+            -e 's|@CXXFLAGS_DEPENDS_CONFIG@|$(strip $(host_$(release_type)_CXXFLAGS))|' \
             -e 's|@CPPFLAGS@|$(strip $(host_CPPFLAGS))|' \
-            -e 's|@CPPFLAGS_RELEASE@|$(strip $(host_release_CPPFLAGS))|' \
-            -e 's|@CPPFLAGS_DEBUG@|$(strip $(host_debug_CPPFLAGS))|' \
+            -e 's|@CPPFLAGS_DEPENDS_CONFIG@|$(strip $(host_$(release_type)_CPPFLAGS))|' \
             -e 's|@LDFLAGS@|$(strip $(host_LDFLAGS))|' \
-            -e 's|@LDFLAGS_RELEASE@|$(strip $(host_release_LDFLAGS))|' \
-            -e 's|@LDFLAGS_DEBUG@|$(strip $(host_debug_LDFLAGS))|' \
+            -e 's|@LDFLAGS_DEPENDS_CONFIG@|$(strip $(host_$(release_type)_LDFLAGS))|' \
             -e 's|@qt_packages@|$(qt_packages_)|' \
             -e 's|@qrencode_packages@|$(qrencode_packages_)|' \
             -e 's|@zmq_packages@|$(zmq_packages_)|' \
diff --git a/depends/funcs.mk b/depends/funcs.mk
index b07432adec9..f4b8880e106 100644
--- a/depends/funcs.mk
+++ b/depends/funcs.mk
@@ -8,9 +8,11 @@ $(1)_ar=$$($$($(1)_type)_AR)
 $(1)_ranlib=$$($$($(1)_type)_RANLIB)
 $(1)_nm=$$($$($(1)_type)_NM)
 $(1)_cflags=$$($$($(1)_type)_CFLAGS) \
-            $$($$($(1)_type)_$$(release_type)_CFLAGS)
+            $$($$($(1)_type)_$$(release_type)_CFLAGS) \
+            -pipe -std=$(C_STANDARD)
 $(1)_cxxflags=$$($$($(1)_type)_CXXFLAGS) \
-              $$($$($(1)_type)_$$(release_type)_CXXFLAGS)
+              $$($$($(1)_type)_$$(release_type)_CXXFLAGS) \
+              -pipe -std=$(CXX_STANDARD)
 $(1)_ldflags=$$($$($(1)_type)_LDFLAGS) \
              $$($$($(1)_type)_$$(release_type)_LDFLAGS) \
              -L$$($($(1)_type)_prefix)/lib
diff --git a/depends/hosts/darwin.mk b/depends/hosts/darwin.mk
index 6f39718effd..7ec2fd96caa 100644
--- a/depends/hosts/darwin.mk
+++ b/depends/hosts/darwin.mk
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ darwin_CXX=$(clangxx_prog) --target=$(host) \
                -iwithsysroot/usr/include/c++/v1 \
                -iwithsysroot/usr/include -iframeworkwithsysroot/System/Library/Frameworks
 
-darwin_CFLAGS=-pipe -std=$(C_STANDARD) -mmacos-version-min=$(OSX_MIN_VERSION)
-darwin_CXXFLAGS=-pipe -std=$(CXX_STANDARD) -mmacos-version-min=$(OSX_MIN_VERSION)
+darwin_CFLAGS=-mmacos-version-min=$(OSX_MIN_VERSION)
+darwin_CXXFLAGS=-mmacos-version-min=$(OSX_MIN_VERSION)
 darwin_LDFLAGS=-Wl,-platform_version,macos,$(OSX_MIN_VERSION),$(OSX_SDK_VERSION)
 
 ifneq ($(build_os),darwin)
diff --git a/depends/hosts/default.mk b/depends/hosts/default.mk
index 22409c4004d..968f6de8fe4 100644
--- a/depends/hosts/default.mk
+++ b/depends/hosts/default.mk
@@ -29,12 +29,11 @@ endef
 
 define add_host_flags_func
 ifeq ($(filter $(origin $1),undefined default),)
-$(host_arch)_$(host_os)_$1 = $($1)
-$(host_arch)_$(host_os)_$(release_type)_$1 =
+$(host_arch)_$(host_os)_$(release_type)_$1 = $($1)
 else
-$(host_arch)_$(host_os)_$1 += $($(host_os)_$1)
 $(host_arch)_$(host_os)_$(release_type)_$1 += $($(host_os)_$(release_type)_$1)
 endif
+$(host_arch)_$(host_os)_$1 += $($(host_os)_$1)
 host_$1 = $$($(host_arch)_$(host_os)_$1)
 host_$(release_type)_$1 = $$($(host_arch)_$(host_os)_$(release_type)_$1)
 endef
diff --git a/depends/hosts/freebsd.mk b/depends/hosts/freebsd.mk
index 009d215f82f..b69535cc800 100644
--- a/depends/hosts/freebsd.mk
+++ b/depends/hosts/freebsd.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-freebsd_CFLAGS=-pipe -std=$(C_STANDARD)
-freebsd_CXXFLAGS=-pipe -std=$(CXX_STANDARD)
+freebsd_CFLAGS=
+freebsd_CXXFLAGS=
 
 freebsd_release_CFLAGS=-O2
 freebsd_release_CXXFLAGS=$(freebsd_release_CFLAGS)
diff --git a/depends/hosts/linux.mk b/depends/hosts/linux.mk
index e2f34265d15..41958f9978b 100644
--- a/depends/hosts/linux.mk
+++ b/depends/hosts/linux.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-linux_CFLAGS=-pipe -std=$(C_STANDARD)
-linux_CXXFLAGS=-pipe -std=$(CXX_STANDARD)
+linux_CFLAGS=
+linux_CXXFLAGS=
 
 ifneq ($(LTO),)
 linux_AR = $(host_toolchain)gcc-ar
diff --git a/depends/hosts/mingw32.mk b/depends/hosts/mingw32.mk
index 4628f7255df..7db6afaef6a 100644
--- a/depends/hosts/mingw32.mk
+++ b/depends/hosts/mingw32.mk
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ ifneq ($(shell $(SHELL) $(.SHELLFLAGS) "command -v $(host)-g++-posix"),)
 mingw32_CXX := $(host)-g++-posix
 endif
 
-mingw32_CFLAGS=-pipe -std=$(C_STANDARD)
-mingw32_CXXFLAGS=-pipe -std=$(CXX_STANDARD)
+mingw32_CFLAGS=
+mingw32_CXXFLAGS=
 
 ifneq ($(LTO),)
 mingw32_AR = $(host_toolchain)gcc-ar
diff --git a/depends/hosts/netbsd.mk b/depends/hosts/netbsd.mk
index d2b79f9d5bf..0e1256c34e8 100644
--- a/depends/hosts/netbsd.mk
+++ b/depends/hosts/netbsd.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-netbsd_CFLAGS=-pipe -std=$(C_STANDARD)
-netbsd_CXXFLAGS=-pipe -std=$(CXX_STANDARD)
+netbsd_CFLAGS=
+netbsd_CXXFLAGS=
 
 ifneq ($(LTO),)
 netbsd_AR = $(host_toolchain)gcc-ar
diff --git a/depends/hosts/openbsd.mk b/depends/hosts/openbsd.mk
index 53595689b62..5ab3f53eae6 100644
--- a/depends/hosts/openbsd.mk
+++ b/depends/hosts/openbsd.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-openbsd_CFLAGS=-pipe -std=$(C_STANDARD)
-openbsd_CXXFLAGS=-pipe -std=$(CXX_STANDARD)
+openbsd_CFLAGS=
+openbsd_CXXFLAGS=
 
 openbsd_release_CFLAGS=-O2
 openbsd_release_CXXFLAGS=$(openbsd_release_CFLAGS)
diff --git a/depends/toolchain.cmake.in b/depends/toolchain.cmake.in
index ac24f74ad4f..5819878cc31 100644
--- a/depends/toolchain.cmake.in
+++ b/depends/toolchain.cmake.in
@@ -15,14 +15,27 @@ if(@depends_crosscompiling@)
   set(CMAKE_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR @host_arch@)
 endif()
 
+
+# Create a build type specifically for depends builds and default to it. When
+# building from depends toolchain file, this will ensure that the flags from
+# depends (or those provided by the user during depends build) will not be
+# overridden by CMake's build-type flags.
+# The user can still change the build-type to a non-Depends-type
+# (Release/Debug/RelWithDebInfo/etc), which will inform the build to ignore the
+# depends flags.
+if(NOT SET_UP_CONFIGURATIONS_DONE)
+    set(SET_UP_CONFIGURATIONS_DONE TRUE)
+    list(PREPEND CMAKE_CONFIGURATION_TYPES "Depends")
+    if(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
+      set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE Depends)
+    endif()
+endif()
+
 if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_C_FLAGS_INIT)
   set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS_INIT "@CFLAGS@")
 endif()
-if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_C_FLAGS_RELWITHDEBINFO_INIT)
-  set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS_RELWITHDEBINFO_INIT "@CFLAGS_RELEASE@")
-endif()
-if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_C_FLAGS_DEBUG_INIT)
-  set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS_DEBUG_INIT "@CFLAGS_DEBUG@")
+if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_C_FLAGS_DEPENDS_INIT)
+  set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS_DEPENDS_INIT "@CFLAGS_DEPENDS_CONFIG@")
 endif()
 
 if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_C_COMPILER)
@@ -33,13 +46,9 @@ if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_INIT)
   set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_INIT "@CXXFLAGS@")
   set(CMAKE_OBJCXX_FLAGS_INIT "@CXXFLAGS@")
 endif()
-if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELWITHDEBINFO_INIT)
-  set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELWITHDEBINFO_INIT "@CXXFLAGS_RELEASE@")
-  set(CMAKE_OBJCXX_FLAGS_RELWITHDEBINFO_INIT "@CXXFLAGS_RELEASE@")
-endif()
-if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG_INIT)
-  set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG_INIT "@CXXFLAGS_DEBUG@")
-  set(CMAKE_OBJCXX_FLAGS_DEBUG_INIT "@CXXFLAGS_DEBUG@")
+if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEPENDS_INIT)
+  set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEPENDS_INIT "@CXXFLAGS_DEPENDS_CONFIG@")
+  set(CMAKE_OBJCXX_FLAGS_DEPENDS_INIT "@CXXFLAGS_DEPENDS_CONFIG@")
 endif()
 
 if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER)
@@ -49,8 +58,7 @@ endif()
 
 # The DEPENDS_COMPILE_DEFINITIONS* variables are to be treated as lists.
 set(DEPENDS_COMPILE_DEFINITIONS @CPPFLAGS@)
-set(DEPENDS_COMPILE_DEFINITIONS_RELWITHDEBINFO @CPPFLAGS_RELEASE@)
-set(DEPENDS_COMPILE_DEFINITIONS_DEBUG @CPPFLAGS_DEBUG@)
+set(DEPENDS_CONFIG_COMPILE_DEFINITIONS @CPPFLAGS_DEPENDS_CONFIG@)
 
 if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS_INIT)
   set(CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS_INIT "@LDFLAGS@")
@@ -58,17 +66,11 @@ endif()
 if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS_INIT)
   set(CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS_INIT "@LDFLAGS@")
 endif()
-if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS_RELWITHDEBINFO_INIT)
-  set(CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS_RELWITHDEBINFO_INIT "@LDFLAGS_RELEASE@")
+if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS_DEPENDS_INIT)
+  set(CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS_DEPENDS_INIT "@LDFLAGS_DEPENDS_CONFIG@")
 endif()
-if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS_RELWITHDEBINFO_INIT)
-  set(CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS_RELWITHDEBINFO_INIT "@LDFLAGS_RELEASE@")
-endif()
-if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS_DEBUG_INIT)
-  set(CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS_DEBUG_INIT "@LDFLAGS_DEBUG@")
-endif()
-if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS_DEBUG_INIT)
-  set(CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS_DEBUG_INIT "@LDFLAGS_DEBUG@")
+if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS_DEPENDS_INIT)
+  set(CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS_DEPENDS_INIT "@LDFLAGS_DEPENDS_CONFIG@")
 endif()
 
 set(CMAKE_AR "@AR@")