diff --git a/mk/spdk.common.mk b/mk/spdk.common.mk
index bac10b0c60..9d5793b03d 100644
--- a/mk/spdk.common.mk
+++ b/mk/spdk.common.mk
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ SYS_LIBS += -laccel-config
 endif
 
 CFLAGS   += $(COMMON_CFLAGS) -Wno-pointer-sign -Wstrict-prototypes -Wold-style-definition -std=gnu99
-CXXFLAGS += $(COMMON_CFLAGS)
+CXXFLAGS += $(COMMON_CFLAGS) -std=c++11
 
 SYS_LIBS += -lrt
 SYS_LIBS += -luuid