diff --git a/R-package/src/R_object_helper.h b/R-package/src/R_object_helper.h
index ce8a326a82f4..a51927baf428 100644
--- a/R-package/src/R_object_helper.h
+++ b/R-package/src/R_object_helper.h
@@ -15,10 +15,6 @@
 
 #include <cstdint>
 
-#define R_NO_REMAP
-#define R_USE_C99_IN_CXX
-#include <Rinternals.h>
-
 #define NAMED_BITS 16
 struct lgbm_sxpinfo {
   unsigned int type : 5;
diff --git a/R-package/src/lightgbm_R.h b/R-package/src/lightgbm_R.h
index c42dfcc42098..c262c3172ca4 100644
--- a/R-package/src/lightgbm_R.h
+++ b/R-package/src/lightgbm_R.h
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@
 #define LIGHTGBM_R_H_
 
 #include <LightGBM/c_api.h>
+
+#define R_NO_REMAP
+#define R_USE_C99_IN_CXX
+#include <Rinternals.h>
+
 #include "R_object_helper.h"
 
 /*!