diff --git a/src/Makevars.in b/src/Makevars.in
index f3d2a500..d68cc49a 100644
--- a/src/Makevars.in
+++ b/src/Makevars.in
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-# Use C++11 if available
-CXX_STD=CXX11
+# Use C++17 to be sure timespec_get is available in C++
+# See https://github.com/r-lib/later/issues/115
+CXX_STD=CXX17
 
 PKG_CPPFLAGS = -pthread -DSTRICT_R_HEADERS
 PKG_LIBS = -pthread @extra_pkg_libs@