diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index ffb86d4ac..bd7b4ab6e 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -142,7 +142,10 @@ set(CMAKE_LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}")
 set(CMAKE_ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${MAPNIK_OUTPUT_DIR}/lib")
 
 # needs to be before the first call of find_boost.
-list(APPEND MAPNIK_COMPILE_DEFS BOOST_SPIRIT_X3_HIDE_CXX17_WARNING)
+if(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD VERSION_LESS 17)
+    list(APPEND MAPNIK_COMPILE_DEFS BOOST_SPIRIT_X3_HIDE_CXX17_WARNING)
+endif()
+
 if(USE_MULTITHREADED)
     set(Boost_USE_MULTITHREADED ON)
     list(APPEND MAPNIK_COMPILE_DEFS MAPNIK_THREADSAFE)