diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index e283d3942..7050fc3fa 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -49,7 +49,11 @@ set(BOOST_MIN_VERSION 1.55)
 
 if (${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID} MATCHES "Clang")
     set(CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_CLANGXX TRUE)
-    set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -std=c++11")
+    # make this an option because for older compilers C++11 doesn't work properly.
+    OPTION(BUILD_ENABLE_CXX11 "Enable C++11 support." ON)
+    if (BUILD_ENABLE_CXX11)
+        set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -std=c++11")
+    endif(BUILD_ENABLE_CXX11)
 endif (${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID} MATCHES "Clang")
 
 if(CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_GNUCXX OR CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_CLANGXX)