diff --git a/src/common.h b/src/common.h
index ffd071d11..536f56aa3 100644
--- a/src/common.h
+++ b/src/common.h
@@ -644,11 +644,15 @@ wcstring vformat_string(const wchar_t *format, va_list va_orig);
 void append_format(wcstring &str, const wchar_t *format, ...);
 void append_formatv(wcstring &str, const wchar_t *format, va_list ap);
 
+#ifdef __cpp_lib_make_unique
+using std::make_unique;
+#else
 /// make_unique implementation
 template<typename T, typename... Args>
 std::unique_ptr<T> make_unique(Args&&... args) {
     return std::unique_ptr<T>(new T(std::forward<Args>(args)...));
 }
+#endif
 
 /// This functions returns the end of the quoted substring beginning at \c in. The type of quoting
 /// character is detemrined by examining \c in. Returns 0 on error.