diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 558dcbff1b..1d36d8624d 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,11 +10,11 @@ enable_testing()
 # the box; for older versions we take a shot in the dark:
 if(CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_LESS "3.1")
   include(CheckCXXCompilerFlag)
-  check_cxx_compiler_flag("-std=c++11" COMPILER_SUPPORTS_CXX11)
+  check_cxx_compiler_flag("-std=gnu++11" COMPILER_SUPPORTS_CXX11)
   if(COMPILER_SUPPORTS_CXX11)
-    set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -std=c++11")
+    set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -std=gnu++11")
   else()
-    set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -std=c++0x")
+    set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -std=gnu++0x")
   endif()
 else()
   set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 11)