diff --git a/barretenberg/cpp/CMakeLists.txt b/barretenberg/cpp/CMakeLists.txt
index e3e4e89f868..86a5a1ee2bd 100644
--- a/barretenberg/cpp/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/barretenberg/cpp/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # barretenberg
 # copyright 2019 Spilsbury Holdings Ltd
 
-cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.24)
+cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.24 FATAL_ERROR)
 
 project(
     Barretenberg