diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 2b3f16372..6648c93b9 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.18)
-project (deltachat)
+cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.16)
+project(deltachat)
 
 find_program(CARGO cargo)