diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index b1d035d76..6b3127da1 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ endif()
 # Patch is applied in the FetchContent_Declare
 set(SLS_LIBZMQ_VERSION "4.3.4")
 
+find_program(PATCH_EXECUTABLE patch)
+if(NOT PATCH_EXECUTABLE)
+    message(FATAL_ERROR "The 'patch' tool is required for patching lib zeromq. Please install it.")
+endif()
 
 if(SLS_FETCH_ZMQ_FROM_GITHUB)
     # Opt in to pull down a zmq version from github instead of
@@ -216,7 +220,7 @@ endif()
 # to control options for the libraries
 if(NOT TARGET slsProjectOptions)
     add_library(slsProjectOptions INTERFACE)
-   target_compile_features(slsProjectOptions INTERFACE cxx_std_11)
+   target_compile_features(slsProjectOptions INTERFACE cxx_std_17)
 endif()
 
 if (NOT TARGET slsProjectWarnings)