diff --git a/pointer/gcc_4_8_compatibility.h b/pointer/gcc_4_8_compatibility.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bf228c13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pointer/gcc_4_8_compatibility.h
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#pragma once
+#ifndef MESSMER_CPPUTILS_GCC48COMPATIBILITY_H
+#define MESSMER_CPPUTILS_GCC48COMPATIBILITY_H
+
+#include <memory>
+
+#if __GNUC__ == 4 && __GNUC_MINOR__ == 8
+// Add std::make_unique
+namespace std {
+    template<typename T, typename... Args>
+    inline unique_ptr<T> make_unique(Args&&... args) {
+        return unique_ptr<T>(new T(std::forward<Args>(args)...));
+    }
+}
+
+#endif
+
+#endif
diff --git a/pointer/unique_ref.h b/pointer/unique_ref.h
index bee77221..1cc2120f 100644
--- a/pointer/unique_ref.h
+++ b/pointer/unique_ref.h
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include <memory>
 #include <boost/optional.hpp>
 #include "../macros.h"
+#include "gcc_4_8_compatibility.h"
 #include "cast.h"
 
 namespace cpputils {