diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index bec019b49..eda20ad29 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -229,6 +229,7 @@ libbitcoin_util_a_SOURCES += compat/glibcxx_compat.cpp
 endif
 
 # cli: shared between bitcoin-cli and bitcoin-qt
+libbitcoin_cli_a_CPPFLAGS = $(BITCOIN_INCLUDES)
 libbitcoin_cli_a_SOURCES = \
   rpcclient.cpp \
   $(BITCOIN_CORE_H)