diff --git a/CMake/utility.cmake b/CMake/utility.cmake
index cd1e835c..f7c4e33e 100644
--- a/CMake/utility.cmake
+++ b/CMake/utility.cmake
@@ -390,21 +390,25 @@ endfunction()
 # Adds warnings compiler options to the target depending on the category
 # target Target name
 ####################################################################################
-function( set_compiler_warnings target)
-  if(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID STREQUAL "GNU")
-    set(WARNINGS "-Werror"
-                 "-Wall")
-  elseif(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID MATCHES "Clang")
-    set(WARNINGS "-Werror"
-                 "-Wall")
-  elseif(MSVC)
-    set(WARNINGS "/WX"
-                 "/W4")
-  endif()
 
-  target_compile_options(${target} PRIVATE ${WARNINGS}) 
+function(set_compiler_warnings target)
+    # Return if WARNINGS_AS_ERROR is OFF
+    if(NOT WARNINGS_AS_ERROR)
+        return()
+    endif()
+
+    if(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID STREQUAL "GNU")
+        set(WARNINGS "-Werror" "-Wall")
+    elseif(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID MATCHES "Clang")
+        set(WARNINGS "-Werror" "-Wall")
+    elseif(MSVC)
+        set(WARNINGS "/WX" "/W4")
+    endif()
+
+    target_compile_options(${target} PRIVATE ${WARNINGS})
 endfunction()
 
+
 ####################################################################################
 # Adds or replace a compiler option
 # _OLD_OPTION The option which should be replaced
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 1af95a8c..87c531f3 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 # the build configuration options are initialized.                                 #
 ####################################################################################
 
-cmake_minimum_required (VERSION 3.0)
+cmake_minimum_required (VERSION 3.5)
 
 project ("rttr" LANGUAGES CXX)
 
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ option(BUILD_PACKAGE "Enable this to build the installer" ON)
 option(USE_PCH "Use precompiled header files for compilation" ON)
 option(CUSTOM_DOXYGEN_STYLE "Enable this option to use a custom doxygen style for HTML documentation; Otherwise the default will be used" ON)
 option(BUILD_WEBSITE_DOCU "Enable this option to create the special docu for the website" OFF)
+option(WARNINGS_AS_ERROR "Enable this option to treat warnings as error" OFF)
 
 # one precompiled headers cannot be used for multiple ninja targets
 # thats why we have to disable this option, when BUILD_STATIC or