diff --git a/src/util/backports.hpp b/src/util/backports.hpp
index 19b33c4..42597e9 100644
--- a/src/util/backports.hpp
+++ b/src/util/backports.hpp
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@
 
 #include "../common.hpp"
 
+#ifndef NDN_CXX_HAVE_STD_TO_STRING
+#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
+#endif
+
 namespace ndn {
 
 #if __cpp_lib_make_unique
@@ -43,6 +47,17 @@
 }
 #endif // __cpp_lib_make_unique
 
+#ifdef NDN_CXX_HAVE_STD_TO_STRING
+using std::to_string;
+#else
+template<typename V>
+inline std::string
+to_string(const V& v)
+{
+  return boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(v);
+}
+#endif // NDN_CXX_HAVE_STD_TO_STRING
+
 } // namespace ndn
 
 #endif // NDN_UTIL_BACKPORTS_HPP