diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 2e928ef..29e3d79 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 
 cmake_minimum_required (VERSION 3.16)
 
-project (Proton C)
+project (Proton C CXX)
 
 set (CMAKE_MODULE_PATH ${CMAKE_MODULE_PATH} "${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/tools/cmake/Modules")
 set (CMAKE_THREAD_PREFER_PTHREAD TRUE)
@@ -75,8 +75,7 @@ set(UNSET_CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER OFF)
 if (NOT DEFINED CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER)
   set(UNSET_CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER ON)
 endif ()
-check_language (CXX)
-if (CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER)
+if(0)
   if (UNSET_CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER)
     # https://gitlab.kitware.com/cmake/cmake/-/issues/25535: check_language might set the variable incorrectly
     unset(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER)
@@ -84,6 +83,7 @@ if (CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER)
   endif ()
 
   enable_language(CXX)
+else()
 
   set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17)
   set(CMAKE_CXX_EXTENSIONS OFF)