diff --git a/cmake/OpenCVCompilerOptions.cmake b/cmake/OpenCVCompilerOptions.cmake
index d4600943fb..8bd8668130 100644
--- a/cmake/OpenCVCompilerOptions.cmake
+++ b/cmake/OpenCVCompilerOptions.cmake
@@ -261,7 +261,11 @@ if(CV_GCC OR CV_CLANG)
   endif()
 
   if(ENABLE_LTO)
-    add_extra_compiler_option(-flto)
+    if(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID STREQUAL "GNU" AND CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_VERSION VERSION_GREATER_EQUAL 12)
+      add_extra_compiler_option(-flto=auto)
+    else()
+      add_extra_compiler_option(-flto)
+    endif()
   endif()
   if(ENABLE_THIN_LTO)
     add_extra_compiler_option(-flto=thin)