diff --git a/common.mk b/common.mk
index a126a30..fd7ebf1 100644
--- a/common.mk
+++ b/common.mk
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ endif
 # --------------------------
 # Compiler / Linker flags
 # --------------------------
-CXXFLAGS := -std=c++23 -Wall -Wextra $(OPTFLAGS) $(SAN_FLAGS)
+CXXFLAGS := -std=c++23 -Wall -Wextra -Werror $(OPTFLAGS) $(SAN_FLAGS)
 LDFLAGS  := $(SAN_FLAGS)
 
 # --------------------------
diff --git a/fold-left-fold-right/Makefile b/fold-left-fold-right/Makefile
index 941ebb4..7b9a123 100644
--- a/fold-left-fold-right/Makefile
+++ b/fold-left-fold-right/Makefile
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 include ../common.mk
 
 # per-example flags
-CXXFLAGS += -pthread
+# CXXFLAGS += -pthread
 
 TARGET := $(notdir $(CURDIR))
 SRCS   := main.cpp
diff --git a/parallel-transform/Makefile b/parallel-transform/Makefile
index 8921317..8024040 100644
--- a/parallel-transform/Makefile
+++ b/parallel-transform/Makefile
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 include ../common.mk
 
 # per-example flags
-CXXFLAGS += -pthread
+# CXXFLAGS += -pthread
 
 ## get it from the folder name
 TARGET := $(notdir $(CURDIR))
diff --git a/smart-ptr/Makefile b/smart-ptr/Makefile
index e7cce5b..60d49d6 100644
--- a/smart-ptr/Makefile
+++ b/smart-ptr/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
-CXX = g++
-CXXFLAGS = -std=c++23 -Wall -Wextra -g -I.
+# pull in shared compiler settings
+include ../common.mk
+
+# per-example flags
+# CXXFLAGS += -pthread
 
 TARGET := $(notdir $(CURDIR))
 SRCS = main.cpp
diff --git a/unique-ptr-basics/Makefile b/unique-ptr-basics/Makefile
index adb9514..2c48d2b 100644
--- a/unique-ptr-basics/Makefile
+++ b/unique-ptr-basics/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 # shared compiler configuration
 include ../common.mk
 
+# per-example flags
+# CXXFLAGS += -pthread
+
 TARGET := $(notdir $(CURDIR))
 SRCS   := main.cpp
 OBJS   := $(SRCS:.cpp=.o)
diff --git a/views-zip-enumerate/Makefile b/views-zip-enumerate/Makefile
index 941ebb4..7b9a123 100644
--- a/views-zip-enumerate/Makefile
+++ b/views-zip-enumerate/Makefile
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 include ../common.mk
 
 # per-example flags
-CXXFLAGS += -pthread
+# CXXFLAGS += -pthread
 
 TARGET := $(notdir $(CURDIR))
 SRCS   := main.cpp