diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index e495e28..170fd6b 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.15...3.26)
 project(python-casacore)
 
+set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17)
+set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED True)
+
 find_package(
   Python
   COMPONENTS Interpreter Development.Module