diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index a7796fd..49fdd57 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -16,13 +16,48 @@ endif()
 project(gmt_makemap CXX)
 
 if(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
- set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE RelWithDebInfo CACHE STRING "Choose the type of build, options are: Debug Release RelWithDebInfo" FORCE)
+ set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE RelWithDebInfo CACHE STRING "Choose the type of build, options are: Debug Release RelWithDebInfo MinSizeRel" FORCE)
 endif()
 
 set(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/modules/" CACHE INTERNAL "Location of our custom CMake modules." FORCE)
 
 include_directories(include)
-set(default_options -std=gnu++11 -flto -fvisibility=hidden -Wl,--export-dynamic -Wall)
+
+# Checking compiler options
+set(default_options -Wall)
+include(CheckCXXCompilerFlag)
+# C++11 is required
+CHECK_CXX_COMPILER_FLAG(-std=c++11 COMPILER_SUPPORTS_CXX11)
+CHECK_CXX_COMPILER_FLAG(-std=c++0x COMPILER_SUPPORTS_CXX0X)
+if(COMPILER_SUPPORTS_CXX11)
+ set(default_options ${default_options} -std=c++11)
+elseif(COMPILER_SUPPORTS_CXX0X)
+ set(default_options ${default_options} -std=c++0x)
+else()
+  message(FATAL_ERROR "The compiler ${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER} has no C++11 support. Please use a different C++ compiler.")
+endif()
+# Link time optimization check
+CHECK_CXX_COMPILER_FLAG(-flto COMPILER_SUPPORTS_FLTO)
+if(COMPILER_SUPPORTS_FLTO AND NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "Debug")
+ set(default_options ${default_options} -flto)
+endif()
+# -ipo flag check (Intel compiler link time optimization)
+CHECK_CXX_COMPILER_FLAG(-ipo COMPILER_SUPPORTS_IPO)
+if(COMPILER_SUPPORTS_IPO AND NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "Debug")
+ set(default_options ${default_options} -ipo)
+endif()
+# Default hidden visibility check
+CHECK_CXX_COMPILER_FLAG(-fvisibility=hidden COMPILER_SUPPORTS_HIDDEN)
+if(COMPILER_SUPPORTS_HIDDEN)
+ set(default_options ${default_options} -fvisibility=hidden)
+endif()
+# Export dynamic. Required as modules mast call functions from main programm
+CHECK_CXX_COMPILER_FLAG(-Wl,--export-dynamic COMPILER_SUPPORTS_EXPORTDYNAMIC)
+if(COMPILER_SUPPORTS_EXPORTDYNAMIC)
+ set(default_options ${default_options} -Wl,--export-dynamic)
+else()
+ message(FATAL_ERROR "The compiler ${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER} has no support of --export-dynamic. Please use a different C++ compiler.")
+endif()
 add_compile_options(${default_options})
 
 file(GLOB modules modules/*)