diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 90644c0..11134f7 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ project(osmpbf VERSION 1.5.0)
 
 include(GNUInstallDirs)
 
+set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17)
+
 # This is needed for the protobuf_generate_cpp() function to work on newer
 # versions of the Protobuf CMake config.
 set(protobuf_MODULE_COMPATIBLE ON CACHE BOOL "")