diff --git a/external/libdxfrw/CMakeLists.txt b/external/libdxfrw/CMakeLists.txt
index 1778265b06f..a33fa497279 100644
--- a/external/libdxfrw/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/external/libdxfrw/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ target_include_directories(libdxfrw PUBLIC
 
 set_property(TARGET libdxfrw PROPERTY POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE ON)
 
+# require c++11
+target_compile_features(libdxfrw PRIVATE cxx_std_11)
+
 if(FALSE)
 if(DOXYGEN_FOUND)
   add_custom_target(doxygen-dxfrw ALL