diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index a6ff274ad..ad4894ff0 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.10)  # bionic's cmake version
 
+set(CMAKE_OSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET 10.13)  # Has to be set before `project()`, and ignored on non-macos
+
 find_program(CCACHE_PROGRAM ccache)
 if(CCACHE_PROGRAM)
   set_property(GLOBAL PROPERTY RULE_LAUNCH_COMPILE "${CCACHE_PROGRAM}")
diff --git a/cmake/unix.cmake b/cmake/unix.cmake
index ad30c151b..58b8a415d 100644
--- a/cmake/unix.cmake
+++ b/cmake/unix.cmake
@@ -2,11 +2,6 @@ if(NOT UNIX)
   return()
 endif()
 
-# because apple means embracing bitrot
-if(APPLE)
-  add_compile_options(-mmacosx-version-min=10.13)
-endif()
-
 include(CheckCXXSourceCompiles)
 include(CheckLibraryExists)