diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 19897c72..5efc8d45 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 #     cmake --build build
 
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.12)
-project(avrdude VERSION 7.0)
+project(avrdude VERSION 7.0 LANGUAGES C)
 
 set(CMAKE_C_STANDARD 11)
 set(CMAKE_C_STANDARD_REQUIRED True)
diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index bd3c6dee..f2dfe9cc 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ if(WIN32)
 endif()
 
 if(MSVC)
+    enable_language(CXX)
+
     add_compile_definitions(_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS=1)
     add_compile_definitions(_CRT_NONSTDC_NO_WARNINGS=1)
     add_compile_definitions(_WINSOCK_DEPRECATED_NO_WARNINGS=1)