diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 77ae85589d..7a664c4ce4 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ project(hifi)
 
 set(CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH ${CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH} $ENV{QT_CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH})
 
+# set our Base SDK to 10.7
+set(CMAKE_OSX_SYSROOT /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX10.7.sdk)
+
 # Find includes in corresponding build directories
 set(CMAKE_INCLUDE_CURRENT_DIR ON)
 # Instruct CMake to run moc automatically when needed.