diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 6745893352..4e1e2ea0b9 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -51,8 +51,10 @@ include(CPack)
 set(CPACK_PACKAGE_FILE_NAME lpython-${LFORTRAN_VERSION}-${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME})
 
 
-set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17
-    CACHE STRING "C++ standard" FORCE)
+if (NOT CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD)
+    set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17
+        CACHE STRING "C++ standard" FORCE)
+endif ()
 
 set(CMAKE_POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE ON)