diff --git a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-clang-3.9-ubuntu-mpich.yml b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-clang-3.9-ubuntu-mpich.yml
index 379c3c2e12..8ecb9baf24 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-clang-3.9-ubuntu-mpich.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-clang-3.9-ubuntu-mpich.yml
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ jobs:
       VT_EXTENDED_TESTS: 1
       VT_UNITY_BUILD: 1
       VT_ZOLTAN: 0
+      VT_CI_BUILD: 1
       CACHE: ~/.local/cache/
 
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-clang-5.0-ubuntu-mpich.yml b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-clang-5.0-ubuntu-mpich.yml
index 9a4b2dd17c..563feb9526 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-clang-5.0-ubuntu-mpich.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-clang-5.0-ubuntu-mpich.yml
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ jobs:
       VT_EXTENDED_TESTS: 1
       VT_UNITY_BUILD: 1
       VT_ZOLTAN: 0
+      VT_CI_BUILD: 1
       CACHE: ~/.local/cache/
 
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-clang-8-alpine-mpich.yml b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-clang-8-alpine-mpich.yml
index 96afb1ec09..f26f84b7b6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-clang-8-alpine-mpich.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-clang-8-alpine-mpich.yml
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ jobs:
       VT_EXTENDED_TESTS: 1
       VT_UNITY_BUILD: 1
       VT_ZOLTAN: 0
+      VT_CI_BUILD: 1
       CACHE: ~/.local/cache/
 
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-10-ubuntu-openmpi.yml b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-10-ubuntu-openmpi.yml
index 74ded799a9..db881e4323 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-10-ubuntu-openmpi.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-10-ubuntu-openmpi.yml
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ jobs:
       VT_EXTENDED_TESTS: 1
       VT_UNITY_BUILD: 1
       VT_ZOLTAN: 0
+      VT_CI_BUILD: 1
       CACHE: ~/.local/cache/
 
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-5-ubuntu-mpich.yml b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-5-ubuntu-mpich.yml
index bfe853dfec..49a73cf119 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-5-ubuntu-mpich.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-5-ubuntu-mpich.yml
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ jobs:
       VT_EXTENDED_TESTS: 1
       VT_UNITY_BUILD: 1
       VT_ZOLTAN: 0
+      VT_CI_BUILD: 1
       CACHE: ~/.local/cache/
 
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-6-ubuntu-mpich.yml b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-6-ubuntu-mpich.yml
index 1ec99b23b7..12aa4a7623 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-6-ubuntu-mpich.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-6-ubuntu-mpich.yml
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ jobs:
       VT_EXTENDED_TESTS: 1
       VT_UNITY_BUILD: 1
       VT_ZOLTAN: 0
+      VT_CI_BUILD: 1
       CACHE: ~/.local/cache/
 
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-7-ubuntu-mpich.yml b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-7-ubuntu-mpich.yml
index 2081334b5f..ecc40a4428 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-7-ubuntu-mpich.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-7-ubuntu-mpich.yml
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ jobs:
       VT_EXTENDED_TESTS: 1
       VT_UNITY_BUILD: 1
       VT_ZOLTAN: 0
+      VT_CI_BUILD: 1
       CACHE: ~/.local/cache/
 
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-8-ubuntu-mpich.yml b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-8-ubuntu-mpich.yml
index 2712146f32..0dc06c6895 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-8-ubuntu-mpich.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-8-ubuntu-mpich.yml
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ jobs:
       VT_EXTENDED_TESTS: 1
       VT_UNITY_BUILD: 1
       VT_ZOLTAN: 0
+      VT_CI_BUILD: 1
       CACHE: ~/.local/cache/
 
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-9-ubuntu-mpich.yml b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-9-ubuntu-mpich.yml
index e44739d87d..1afd56a262 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-9-ubuntu-mpich.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-gcc-9-ubuntu-mpich.yml
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ jobs:
       VT_EXTENDED_TESTS: 1
       VT_UNITY_BUILD: 1
       VT_ZOLTAN: 1
+      VT_CI_BUILD: 1
       CACHE: ~/.local/cache/
 
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-intel-18-ubuntu-mpich-extended.yml b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-intel-18-ubuntu-mpich-extended.yml
index 6e4360c503..bc4299ce66 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-intel-18-ubuntu-mpich-extended.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-intel-18-ubuntu-mpich-extended.yml
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ jobs:
       VT_EXTENDED_TESTS: 1
       VT_UNITY_BUILD: 1
       VT_ZOLTAN: 0
+      VT_CI_BUILD: 1
       CACHE: ~/.local/cache/
 
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-intel-18-ubuntu-mpich.yml b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-intel-18-ubuntu-mpich.yml
index 1ac51f7c44..55561c0c91 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-intel-18-ubuntu-mpich.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-intel-18-ubuntu-mpich.yml
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ jobs:
       VT_EXTENDED_TESTS: ${{ github.event_name != 'pull_request' }}
       VT_UNITY_BUILD: 1
       VT_ZOLTAN: 0
+      VT_CI_BUILD: 1
       CACHE: ~/.local/cache/
 
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-nvidia-10-ubuntu-mpich-extended.yml b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-nvidia-10-ubuntu-mpich-extended.yml
index 3b37e089b1..7a764c442a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-nvidia-10-ubuntu-mpich-extended.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-nvidia-10-ubuntu-mpich-extended.yml
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ jobs:
       VT_EXTENDED_TESTS: 1
       VT_UNITY_BUILD: 1
       VT_ZOLTAN: 0
+      VT_CI_BUILD: 1
       CACHE: ~/.local/cache/
 
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-nvidia-10-ubuntu-mpich.yml b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-nvidia-10-ubuntu-mpich.yml
index d58f4ed40e..312c497111 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-nvidia-10-ubuntu-mpich.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-nvidia-10-ubuntu-mpich.yml
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ jobs:
       VT_EXTENDED_TESTS: ${{ github.event_name != 'pull_request' }}
       VT_UNITY_BUILD: 1
       VT_ZOLTAN: 0
+      VT_CI_BUILD: 1
       CACHE: ~/.local/cache/
 
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-nvidia-11-ubuntu-mpich-extended.yml b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-nvidia-11-ubuntu-mpich-extended.yml
index 014f5a0e4d..cab6d5d3dc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-nvidia-11-ubuntu-mpich-extended.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-nvidia-11-ubuntu-mpich-extended.yml
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ jobs:
       VT_EXTENDED_TESTS: 1
       VT_UNITY_BUILD: 1
       VT_ZOLTAN: 0
+      VT_CI_BUILD: 1
       CACHE: ~/.local/cache/
 
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-nvidia-11-ubuntu-mpich.yml b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-nvidia-11-ubuntu-mpich.yml
index b14dc9e00b..aed4d3a389 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dockerimage-nvidia-11-ubuntu-mpich.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dockerimage-nvidia-11-ubuntu-mpich.yml
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ jobs:
       VT_EXTENDED_TESTS: ${{ github.event_name != 'pull_request' }}
       VT_UNITY_BUILD: 1
       VT_ZOLTAN: 0
+      VT_CI_BUILD: 1
       CACHE: ~/.local/cache/
 
     steps:
diff --git a/ci/build_cpp.sh b/ci/build_cpp.sh
index 708d6fd207..13335d1555 100755
--- a/ci/build_cpp.sh
+++ b/ci/build_cpp.sh
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ cmake -G "${CMAKE_GENERATOR:-Ninja}" \
       -Dcheckpoint_DIR="$CHECKPOINT_BUILD/install" \
       -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH="${CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH:-}" \
       -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="$VT_BUILD/install" \
+      -Dvt_ci_build="${VT_CI_BUILD:-0}" \
       "$VT"
 
 if test "${VT_DOXYGEN_ENABLED:-0}" -eq 1
diff --git a/cmake/define_build_types.cmake b/cmake/define_build_types.cmake
index ef81141482..21ba16c46b 100644
--- a/cmake/define_build_types.cmake
+++ b/cmake/define_build_types.cmake
@@ -164,6 +164,9 @@ else()
   set(vt_feature_cmake_zoltan "0")
 endif()
 
+message(STATUS "CI_BUILD = ${vt_ci_build}")
+set(vt_feature_cmake_ci_build ${vt_ci_build})
+
 set(vt_feature_cmake_no_feature "0")
 set(vt_feature_cmake_production "0")
 
@@ -212,8 +215,8 @@ foreach(loop_build_type ${VT_CONFIG_TYPES})
     ${cmake_vt_debug_modes_${loop_build_type}}
   )
 
-  # assume production mode for everything except debug
-  if (loop_build_type STREQUAL "debug")
+  # assume production mode for everything except debug or CI build
+  if (loop_build_type STREQUAL "debug" OR ${vt_ci_build})
     set(vt_feature_cmake_production "0")
   else()
     set(vt_feature_cmake_production "1")
diff --git a/cmake_config.h.in b/cmake_config.h.in
index 7e38360a47..610bd19db3 100644
--- a/cmake_config.h.in
+++ b/cmake_config.h.in
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@
 #define vt_feature_cmake_mimalloc            @vt_feature_cmake_mimalloc@
 #define vt_feature_cmake_mpi_access_guards   @vt_feature_cmake_mpi_access_guards@
 #define vt_feature_cmake_zoltan              @vt_feature_cmake_zoltan@
+#define vt_feature_cmake_ci_build            @vt_feature_cmake_ci_build@
 
 #cmakedefine vt_quirked_trivially_copyable_on_msg
 #cmakedefine vt_quirked_serialize_method_detection
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 125152a4ed..ced014fc2b 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ x-vtopts: &vtopts
   CODE_COVERAGE: ${CODE_COVERAGE:-0}
   https_proxy: ${PROXY-}
   http_proxy: ${PROXY-}
+  VT_CI_BUILD: ${VT_CI_BUILD:-0}
 
 services:
   ##############################################################################
diff --git a/scripts/workflow-template.yml b/scripts/workflow-template.yml
index 8435bab748..8956e4a86a 100644
--- a/scripts/workflow-template.yml
+++ b/scripts/workflow-template.yml
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ jobs:
       VT_EXTENDED_TESTS: [% vt_extended_tests %]
       VT_UNITY_BUILD: [% vt_unity_build %]
       VT_ZOLTAN: [% vt_zoltan %]
+      VT_CI_BUILD: [% vt_ci_build %]
       CACHE: [% cache_dir %]
 
     steps:
diff --git a/scripts/workflows.ini b/scripts/workflows.ini
index 558a7500cd..b9f8613974 100644
--- a/scripts/workflows.ini
+++ b/scripts/workflows.ini
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ vt_pool = 1
 vt_extended_tests = 1
 vt_unity_build = 1
 vt_zoltan = 0
+vt_ci_build = 1
 ulimit_core = 0
 code_coverage = 0
 build_type = release
diff --git a/src/vt/configs/features/features_defines.h b/src/vt/configs/features/features_defines.h
index 2c6c4ed6a4..b47798f8b7 100644
--- a/src/vt/configs/features/features_defines.h
+++ b/src/vt/configs/features/features_defines.h
@@ -69,5 +69,6 @@
 #define vt_feature_mimalloc           0 || vt_feature_cmake_mimalloc
 #define vt_feature_mpi_access_guards  0 || vt_feature_cmake_mpi_access_guards
 #define vt_feature_zoltan             0 || vt_feature_cmake_zoltan
+#define vt_feature_ci_build           0 || vt_feature_cmake_ci_build
 
 #endif /*INCLUDED_VT_CONFIGS_FEATURES_FEATURES_DEFINES_H*/