diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 56dcd41b..1132417f 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -238,27 +238,14 @@ endif()
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Allow override of level names
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-if(NOT SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_TRACE)
-    set(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_TRACE trace)
-endif()
-if(NOT SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_DEBUG)
-    set(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_DEBUG debug)
-endif()
-if(NOT SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_INFO)
-    set(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_INFO info)
-endif()
-if(NOT SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_WARNING)
-    set(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_WARNING warning)
-endif()
-if(NOT SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_ERROR)
-    set(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_ERROR error)
-endif()
-if(NOT SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_CRITICAL)
-    set(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_CRITICAL critical)
-endif()
-if(NOT SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_OFF)
-    set(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_OFF off)
-endif()
+set(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_TRACE "trace" CACHE STRING "custom level name")
+set(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_DEBUG "debug" CACHE STRING "custom level name")
+set(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_INFO "info" CACHE STRING "custom level name")
+set(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_WARNING "warning" CACHE STRING "custom level name")
+set(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_ERROR "error" CACHE STRING "custom level name")
+set(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_CRITICAL "critical" CACHE STRING "custom level name")
+set(SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_OFF "off" CACHE STRING "custom level name")
+
 target_compile_definitions(spdlog PUBLIC SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_TRACE=\"${SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_TRACE}\")
 target_compile_definitions(spdlog PUBLIC SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_DEBUG=\"${SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_DEBUG}\")
 target_compile_definitions(spdlog PUBLIC SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_INFO=\"${SPDLOG_LEVEL_NAME_INFO}\")