diff --git a/scripts/build_windows.ps1 b/scripts/build_windows.ps1
index 62930d7f2..60485df85 100644
--- a/scripts/build_windows.ps1
+++ b/scripts/build_windows.ps1
@@ -80,13 +80,14 @@ function checkEnv() {
 
 
 function buildOllama() {
+    mkdir -Force -path "${script:DIST_DIR}\"
     if ($script:ARCH -ne "arm64") {
         Remove-Item -ea 0 -recurse -force -path "${script:SRC_DIR}\dist\windows-${script:ARCH}"
         New-Item "${script:SRC_DIR}\dist\windows-${script:ARCH}\lib\ollama\" -ItemType Directory -ea 0
 
         & cmake --fresh --preset CPU --install-prefix $script:DIST_DIR
         if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { exit($LASTEXITCODE)}
-        & cmake --build --preset CPU --parallel $script:JOBS
+        & cmake --build --preset CPU  --config Release --parallel $script:JOBS
         if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { exit($LASTEXITCODE)}
         & cmake --install build --component CPU --strip
         if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { exit($LASTEXITCODE)}
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ function buildOllama() {
             # to avoid 2022 (or newer) from being used as the default
             & cmake --fresh --preset "CUDA 11" -G "Visual Studio 16 2019" --install-prefix $script:DIST_DIR
             if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { exit($LASTEXITCODE)}
-            & cmake --build --preset "CUDA 11" --parallel $script:JOBS
+            & cmake --build --preset "CUDA 11"  --config Release --parallel $script:JOBS
             if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { exit($LASTEXITCODE)}
             & cmake --install build --component "CUDA" --strip
             if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { exit($LASTEXITCODE)}
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ function buildOllama() {
             write-host "Building CUDA v12 backend libraries"
             & cmake --fresh --preset "CUDA 12" --install-prefix $script:DIST_DIR
             if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { exit($LASTEXITCODE)}
-            & cmake --build --preset "CUDA 12" --parallel $script:JOBS
+            & cmake --build --preset "CUDA 12"  --config Release --parallel $script:JOBS
             if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { exit($LASTEXITCODE)}
             & cmake --install build --component "CUDA" --strip
             if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { exit($LASTEXITCODE)}
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ function buildOllama() {
             $env:HIPCXX=""
             $env:HIP_PLATFORM=""
             $env:CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=""
-            & cmake --build --preset "ROCm" --parallel $script:JOBS
+            & cmake --build --preset "ROCm"  --config Release --parallel $script:JOBS
             if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { exit($LASTEXITCODE)}
             & cmake --install build --component "HIP" --strip
             if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { exit($LASTEXITCODE)}