diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 0e2b703..7097f06 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -28,8 +28,13 @@ project(
     VERSION 1.36.0
     LANGUAGES CXX C)
 
-# Allow applications to override the CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD, but if not set use 11.
-if (NOT CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD)
+find_package(absl CONFIG REQUIRED)
+
+# Use CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=17 if ABSL_USE_CXX17 is set
+if (ABSL_USE_CXX17)
+    message(STATUS "Found absl uses CXX17, enable CXX17 feature.")
+    set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17)
+elseif (NOT CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD)
     set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 11)
 endif ()
 if (CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD VERSION_LESS 11)
diff --git a/google/cloud/internal/port_platform.h b/google/cloud/internal/port_platform.h
index c9f34cf..e624004 100644
--- a/google/cloud/internal/port_platform.h
+++ b/google/cloud/internal/port_platform.h
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@
 // Abort compilation if the compiler does not support C++11.
 #if GOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_CPP_VERSION < 201103L
 #  error "C++11 or newer is required"
+#elif defined(ABSL_USE_CXX17) && GOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_CPP_VERSION < 201703L
+#  error "Compiled to use Abseil with C++17 support, but using with C++ < C++17"
 #endif  // GOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_CPP_VERSION < 201103L
 
 // Abort the build if the version of the compiler is too old. With CMake we
