diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index c5eebb87..852001b1 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,22 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 2.8.3)
 project(opencv_apps)
 
+## https://stackoverflow.com/questions/10984442/how-to-detect-c11-support-of-a-compiler-with-cmake
+if(CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_GNUCXX)
+  execute_process(COMMAND ${CMAKE_C_COMPILER} -dumpversion OUTPUT_VARIABLE GCC_VERSION)
+  if (GCC_VERSION VERSION_GREATER 4.7 OR GCC_VERSION VERSION_EQUAL 4.7)
+    message(STATUS "C++11 activated.")
+    add_definitions("-std=gnu++11")
+  elseif(GCC_VERSION VERSION_GREATER 4.3 OR GCC_VERSION VERSION_EQUAL 4.3)
+    message(WARNING "C++0x activated. If you get any errors update to a compiler which fully supports C++11")
+    add_definitions("-std=gnu++0x")
+  else ()
+    message(FATAL_ERROR "C++11 needed. Therefore a gcc compiler with a version higher than 4.3 is needed.")
+  endif()
+else(CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_GNUCXX)
+  add_definitions("-std=c++0x")
+endif(CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_GNUCXX)
+
 find_package(catkin REQUIRED COMPONENTS cv_bridge dynamic_reconfigure message_generation image_transport nodelet roscpp sensor_msgs std_msgs std_srvs)
 
 find_package(OpenCV REQUIRED)