diff --git a/.iwyu.imp b/.iwyu.imp
index 30e12986dd..123e72f32d 100644
--- a/.iwyu.imp
+++ b/.iwyu.imp
@@ -24,5 +24,8 @@
   # We prefer to include <gmock/gmock.h> for simplicity
   { "include": ["<gmock/gmock-function-mocker.h>", "private", "<gmock/gmock.h>", "public"] },
   { "include": ["<gmock/gmock-spec-builders.h>", "private", "<gmock/gmock.h>", "public"] },
+
+  # We prefer to include <curl/curl.h> for simplicity
+  { "include": ["<curl/system.h>", "private", "<curl/curl.h>", "public"] },
 ]
 
diff --git a/ext/src/http/client/curl/http_operation_curl.cc b/ext/src/http/client/curl/http_operation_curl.cc
index 1af00a0ff5..24ba688040 100644
--- a/ext/src/http/client/curl/http_operation_curl.cc
+++ b/ext/src/http/client/curl/http_operation_curl.cc
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 
 #include <curl/curl.h>
 #include <curl/curlver.h>
-#include <curl/system.h>
 
 #ifdef ENABLE_OTLP_RETRY_PREVIEW
 #  include <array>