diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index d5eba69a2b5bd13bba4d9c65f776c9e4f6f2f739..b6b938f2ccae547a1cc072f37baaa283e1ccef96 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ endif (POLICY CMP0048)
 
 project(googletest-distribution)
 set(GOOGLETEST_VERSION 1.9.0)
-set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 11)
+set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 11 CACHE STRING "Set the C++ standard to be used for compiling")
 
 enable_testing()