diff --git a/.github/workflows/unit_tests_ci_workflow.yml b/.github/workflows/unit_tests_ci_workflow.yml
index 19214cf..c929a9a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/unit_tests_ci_workflow.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/unit_tests_ci_workflow.yml
@@ -8,9 +8,14 @@ jobs:
   run-unit-tests:
     name: Run Unit Tests
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
     steps:
+
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v5
 
+      - name: Check and install GCC version
+        run: ./ci_scripts/check_gcc_version.sh
+
       - name: Run Unit Tests
         run: cd tests && ./run_tests.sh
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 05c0828..4fcd42c 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ GIT_DIRTY := $(shell git diff-index --quiet HEAD -- || echo "-dirty")
 GIT_HASH := $(shell git rev-parse --short HEAD || echo "undef")
 GIT_C_FLAGS := -DGIT_HASH=\"$(GIT_HASH)\" -DGIT_DIRTY=\"$(GIT_DIRTY)\"
 
-CFLAGS	:= -g -O3 -Wall -Werror \
+CFLAGS	:= -g -O3 -Wall -Werror -std=gnu23 \
         -mcpu=arm7tdmi -mtune=arm7tdmi \
         -ffast-math -fomit-frame-pointer -funroll-loops \
         $(ARCH)
diff --git a/ci_scripts/check_gcc_version.sh b/ci_scripts/check_gcc_version.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..7654bdc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ci_scripts/check_gcc_version.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# Check GCC version and install GCC 14 if needed
+check_gcc_version() {
+    if command -v gcc &> /dev/null; then
+        gcc_version=$(gcc -dumpversion | cut -d. -f1)
+        if [ "$gcc_version" -lt 14 ]; then
+            echo "GCC version $gcc_version detected. Installing GCC 14..."
+            sudo apt-get update
+            sudo apt-get install -y gcc-14
+            sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/gcc gcc /usr/bin/gcc-14 100
+            echo "GCC 14 installed and set as default."
+        fi
+    fi
+}
+
+check_gcc_version
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/README b/tests/README
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..77bbf95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/README
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+These are tests that run on the repository's CI or can be run locally 
+to make sure none of the base modules are broken.
+
+The project uses the gnu23 C standard which is stably supported from GCC 14 and onwards 
+so this project should be compiled with GCC 14 or later.
diff --git a/tests/bitset/Makefile b/tests/bitset/Makefile
index 2eed24d..a3eac92 100644
--- a/tests/bitset/Makefile
+++ b/tests/bitset/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 
 CC := gcc
 CFLAGS := -I../../include -I. \
-          -g -O3 -Wall -Werror
+          -g -O3 -std=gnu23 -Wall -Werror
 SRC            := bitset_test.c         \
                   ../../source/bitset.c
 OUT            := build/bitset_test 
diff --git a/tests/list/Makefile b/tests/list/Makefile
index 0a433b6..3c23e55 100644
--- a/tests/list/Makefile
+++ b/tests/list/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 
 CC := gcc
 CFLAGS := -I../../include -I. \
-          -g -O3 -Wall -Werror -DPOOLS_TEST_ENV=yes
+          -g -O3 -std=gnu23 -Wall -Werror -DPOOLS_TEST_ENV=yes
 
 SRC            := list_test.c          \
                   ../../source/list.c  \
diff --git a/tests/pool/Makefile b/tests/pool/Makefile
index f2f6093..225ee24 100644
--- a/tests/pool/Makefile
+++ b/tests/pool/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 
 CC := gcc
 CFLAGS := -I../../include -I. \
-          -g -O3 -Wall -Werror -DPOOLS_TEST_ENV=yes
+          -g -O3 -std=gnu23 -Wall -Werror -DPOOLS_TEST_ENV=yes
 
 SRC            := pool_test.c ../../source/pool.c ../../source/bitset.c
 OUT            := build/pool_test 
diff --git a/tests/util/Makefile b/tests/util/Makefile
index 56bbfc2..fb9a3ad 100644
--- a/tests/util/Makefile
+++ b/tests/util/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 
 CC := gcc
 CFLAGS := -I../../include -I. \
-          -g -O3 -Wall -Werror -Wno-format
+          -g -O3 -std=gnu23 -Wall -Werror -Wno-format
 
 SRC            := util_test.c ../../source/util.c
 OUT            := build/util_test