diff --git a/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index 9ae219db..fa708458 100644
--- a/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -56,6 +56,10 @@ set(SFIZZ_TEST_SOURCES
 
 add_executable(sfizz_tests ${SFIZZ_TEST_SOURCES})
 target_link_libraries(sfizz_tests PRIVATE sfizz::internal sfizz::static sfizz::spin_mutex sfizz::jsl sfizz::filesystem)
+if(APPLE AND CMAKE_OSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET VERSION_LESS "10.12")
+    # workaround for incomplete C++17 runtime on macOS
+    target_compile_definitions(sfizz_tests PRIVATE "CATCH_CONFIG_NO_CPP17_UNCAUGHT_EXCEPTIONS")
+endif()
 sfizz_enable_lto_if_needed(sfizz_tests)
 sfizz_enable_fast_math(sfizz_tests)
 catch_discover_tests(sfizz_tests)