diff --git a/cmake/CMakeLists.txt b/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
index c6cb09f325..ea559ee926 100644
--- a/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -164,6 +164,22 @@ if(MSVC)
   add_compile_definitions(_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS)
 endif()
 
+# warn about potentially problematic GCC compiler versions
+if(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID STREQUAL "GNU")
+  if (CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD GREATER_EQUAL 17)
+    if (CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_VERSION VERSION_LESS 9.0)
+      message(WARNING "Using ${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID} compiler version ${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_VERSION} "
+        "with C++17 is not recommended. Please use ${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID} compiler version 9.x or later")
+    endif()
+  endif()
+  if (CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD GREATER_EQUAL 11)
+    if (CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_VERSION VERSION_LESS 5.0)
+      message(WARNING "Using ${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID} compiler version ${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_VERSION} "
+        "with C++11 is not recommended. Please use ${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID} compiler version 5.x or later")
+    endif()
+  endif()
+endif()
+
 # export all symbols when building a .dll file on windows
 if((CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME STREQUAL "Windows") AND BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
   set(CMAKE_WINDOWS_EXPORT_ALL_SYMBOLS ON)