diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index d0a563a67cc399948e83761b27552fea7e6d2725..7f0420233708e63e76aaa77897f10119ede0ac89 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -41,8 +41,9 @@ set(PROJECT_DESCRIPTION
   )
 SET(PROJECT_USE_CMAKE_EXPORT TRUE)
 
-SET(CMAKE_C_STANDARD 99)
-SET(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 98)
+IF(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD)
+  SET(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 98)
+ENDIF()
 
 # Do not support CMake older than 2.8.12
 CMAKE_POLICY(SET CMP0022 NEW)