diff --git a/wolfssl/wolfcrypt/settings.h b/wolfssl/wolfcrypt/settings.h
index 9c939da85c..a54cac0519 100644
--- a/wolfssl/wolfcrypt/settings.h
+++ b/wolfssl/wolfcrypt/settings.h
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@
     #include "nucleus.h"
     #include "os/networking/ssl/lite/cyassl_nucleus_defs.h"
 #elif !defined(BUILDING_WOLFSSL) && !defined(WOLFSSL_OPTIONS_H) && \
-      !defined(WOLFSSL_CUSTOM_CONFIG)
+      !defined(EXTERNAL_OPTS_OPENVPN) && !defined(WOLFSSL_CUSTOM_CONFIG)
     /* This error indicates that the settings header may not be included before
      * other wolfSSL headers. If you are using a custom configuration method,
      * define WOLFSSL_CUSTOM_CONFIG to override this error. */