diff --git a/cmake/Modules/EvtGenCompilerFlags.cmake b/cmake/Modules/EvtGenCompilerFlags.cmake
--- a/cmake/Modules/EvtGenCompilerFlags.cmake
+++ b/cmake/Modules/EvtGenCompilerFlags.cmake
@@ -64,11 +64,13 @@
 
 # C++ standard settings
 set(CMAKE_CXX_EXTENSIONS OFF)
+set(EVTGEN_CXX_STANDARD 17)
 if(DEFINED ENV{CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD})
-    set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD $ENV{CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD} CACHE STRING "C++ standard")
-else()
-    set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17 CACHE STRING "C++ standard")
+    if($ENV{CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD} GREATER ${EVTGEN_CXX_STANDARD})
+        set(EVTGEN_CXX_STANDARD $ENV{CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD})
+    endif()
 endif()
+set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD ${EVTGEN_CXX_STANDARD} CACHE STRING "C++ standard")
 set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED ON)
 message(STATUS "EvtGen: Using C++${CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD} standard")