diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index b315e3e6..92c2efae 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -75,7 +75,13 @@ IF( MINGW OR UNIX )
                     -W
                    )
     ENDIF()
-    ADD_DEFINITIONS( -std=c++98 )
+
+    IF ( CYGWIN )
+        ADD_DEFINITIONS( -std=gnu++98 ) # to support snprintf
+    ELSE()
+        ADD_DEFINITIONS( -std=c++98 )
+    ENDIF()
+
 ENDIF( MINGW OR UNIX )
 
 IF( EXIV2_ENABLE_COMMERCIAL )
diff --git a/config/configure.ac b/config/configure.ac
index ab8f00d1..e6760330 100644
--- a/config/configure.ac
+++ b/config/configure.ac
@@ -335,9 +335,16 @@ for u in gettext msginit msgmerge msgfmt msgconv msgfilter ; do
     fi
 done
 
-# 1188      v0.26 use c++98
-# 1188      v0.27 should have an option to specify versions such as c++11
-CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS -std=c++98"
+# 1188 v0.26 uses c++98
+# 1188 v0.27 should have an option to specify versions such as c++11
+case "$host_os" in
+    *cygwin*)
+        CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS -std=gnu++98"  # cygwin requires gnu++98 to support snprintf
+    ;;
+    *)
+        CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS -std=c++98"    # // all others use c++98
+    ;;
+esac
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Create output files.