diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 7fae33c..af87507 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.5)
 
 project(SimpleAmqpClient LANGUAGES CXX)
 
-set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 98)
+if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD)
+  set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 98)
+endif()
 set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED ON)
 set(CMAKE_CXX_EXTENSIONS OFF)