--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/cpp.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/cpp.py
@@ -102,9 +102,13 @@ class GnuCPPCompiler(GnuCompiler, CPPCom
                           '3': default_warn_args + ['-Wextra', '-Wpedantic']}
 
     def get_options(self):
+        c_stds = ['c++98', 'c++03', 'c++11']
+        g_stds = ['gnu++03', 'gnu++11']
+        if version_compare(self.version, '>=5.0.0'):
+            c_stds += ['c++14', 'c++17', 'c++1z']
+            g_stds += ['gnu++14', 'gnu++17', 'gnu++1z']
         opts = {'cpp_std': coredata.UserComboOption('cpp_std', 'C++ language standard to use',
-                                                    ['none', 'c++98', 'c++03', 'c++11', 'c++14', 'c++17', 'c++1z',
-                                                     'gnu++03', 'gnu++11', 'gnu++14', 'gnu++17', 'gnu++1z'],
+                                                    ['none'] + c_stds + g_stds,
                                                     'none'),
                 'cpp_debugstl': coredata.UserBooleanOption('cpp_debugstl',
                                                            'STL debug mode',
--- a/mesonbuild/minit.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/minit.py
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {{
 hello_c_meson_template = '''project('{project_name}', 'c',
   version : '{version}',
   default_options : ['warning_level=3',
-                     'cpp_std=c++14'])
+                     'cpp_std=c++11'])
 
 exe = executable('{exe_name}', '{source_name}',
   install : true)
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {{
 
 lib_cpp_meson_template = '''project('{project_name}', 'cpp',
   version : '{version}',
-  default_options : ['warning_level=3', 'cpp_std=c++14'])
+  default_options : ['warning_level=3', 'cpp_std=c++11'])
 
 # These arguments are only used to build the shared library
 # not the executables that use the library.
--- "a/test cases/unit/16 prebuilt shared/patron.c"
+++ "b/test cases/unit/16 prebuilt shared/patron.c"
@@ -5,4 +5,5 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     printf("You are standing outside the Great Library of Alexandria.\n");
     printf("You decide to go inside.\n\n");
     alexandria_visit();
+    return 0;
 }