diff --git a/src/cython_cmake/cmake/UseCython.cmake b/src/cython_cmake/cmake/UseCython.cmake
index adc9e88..84aea57 100644
--- a/src/cython_cmake/cmake/UseCython.cmake
+++ b/src/cython_cmake/cmake/UseCython.cmake
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@
 #   case, a C++ file is generated by default.
 #
 # ``CYTHON_ARGS <args>``
-#   Specify additional arguments for the cythonization process.
+#   Specify additional arguments for the cythonization process. Will default to
+#   the ``CYTHON_ARGS`` variable if not specified.
 #
 # ``OUTPUT_VARIABLE <OutputVariable>``
 #   Set the variable ``<OutputVariable>`` in the parent scope to the path to the
@@ -91,6 +92,11 @@ function(Cython_compile_pyx)
     message(FATAL_ERROR "Cython executable not found")
   endif()
 
+  # Default to CYTHON_ARGS if argument not specified
+  if(NOT _args_CYTHON_ARGS AND DEFINED CYTHON_ARGS)
+    set(_args_CYTHON_ARGS "${CYTHON_ARGS}")
+  endif()
+
   # Get source file location
   set(_source_files ${_args_UNPARSED_ARGUMENTS})