diff --git a/DeviceAdapters/Zaber/Makefile.am b/DeviceAdapters/Zaber/Makefile.am
index c891fe6b8..0f8f24692 100644
--- a/DeviceAdapters/Zaber/Makefile.am
+++ b/DeviceAdapters/Zaber/Makefile.am
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-AM_CXXFLAGS = $(MMDEVAPI_CXXFLAGS) -I$(MMTHIRDPARTYPUBLIC)/Zaber/zaber-motion/include
+# We require C++17 because libzml is C++17. Setting the C++ standard for
+# individual device adapters is a hack and should not be imitated except when
+# there is no other option.
+AM_CXXFLAGS = $(MMDEVAPI_CXXFLAGS) -I$(MMTHIRDPARTYPUBLIC)/Zaber/zaber-motion/include -std=c++17 -Wno-dynamic-exception-spec
+
 deviceadapter_LTLIBRARIES = libmmgr_dal_Zaber.la
 libmmgr_dal_Zaber_la_SOURCES = \
 	ObjectiveChanger.cpp \