diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index e69c9e96c..194ad7bf5 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ project(behaviortree_cpp VERSION 4.7.2 LANGUAGES C CXX)
 
 # create compile_commands.json
 set(CMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS ON)
+set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17)
 
 #---- project configuration ----
 option(BTCPP_SHARED_LIBS "Build shared libraries" ON)