diff --git a/dlib/test/CMakeLists.txt b/dlib/test/CMakeLists.txt
index a20640a85..f99bc1b06 100644
--- a/dlib/test/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/dlib/test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ if (CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_GNUCXX)
       add_compile_options(-Wno-free-nonheap-object)
    endif()
 
-   if(${CMAKE_VERSION} VERSION_GREATER "3.8.0") 
+   if(${CMAKE_VERSION} VERSION_GREATER_EQUAL "3.13.0") 
       # strip debug symbols to make the binary smaller
       target_link_options(${target_name} PRIVATE $<$<CONFIG:RELEASE>:-s>)
    endif()
diff --git a/examples/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/CMakeLists.txt
index e8f720656..d40445d82 100644
--- a/examples/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ macro(add_example name)
    add_executable(${name} ${name}.cpp)
    target_link_libraries(${name} dlib::dlib )
 
-   if(${CMAKE_VERSION} VERSION_GREATER "3.8.0") 
+   if(${CMAKE_VERSION} VERSION_GREATER_EQUAL "3.13.0") 
    # And strip symbols to make your binary smaller if you like.  Certainly not
    # required though.
        target_link_options(${name} PRIVATE $<$<CONFIG:RELEASE>:-s>)