diff --git a/mcapi/crypto.c b/mcapi/crypto.c
index aa5e430199..0a5dc85017 100644
--- a/mcapi/crypto.c
+++ b/mcapi/crypto.c
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@
 #ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
     #include "config.h"
 #endif
+#ifndef WOLFSSL_USER_SETTINGS
+    #include <wolfssl/options.h>
+#endif
 #include <wolfssl/wolfcrypt/settings.h>
 
 #ifdef MICROCHIP_MPLAB_HARMONY
diff --git a/mcapi/mcapi_test.c b/mcapi/mcapi_test.c
index 16d929749b..d92640fbbd 100644
--- a/mcapi/mcapi_test.c
+++ b/mcapi/mcapi_test.c
@@ -27,9 +27,12 @@
     #include <config.h>
 #endif
 
-/* mc api header */
+#ifndef WOLFSSL_USER_SETTINGS
+    #include <wolfssl/options.h>
+#endif
 #include <wolfssl/wolfcrypt/settings.h>
 
+/* mc api header */
 #include "crypto.h"
 
 /* sanity test against our default implementation, wolfssl headers  */
diff --git a/wolfssl/wolfcrypt/settings.h b/wolfssl/wolfcrypt/settings.h
index 9c939da85c..40c76a19a7 100644
--- a/wolfssl/wolfcrypt/settings.h
+++ b/wolfssl/wolfcrypt/settings.h
@@ -319,6 +319,10 @@
     #endif
 #endif
 
+#if defined(BUILDING_WOLFSSL) && defined(WOLFSSL_OPTIONS_H)
+    #error wolfssl/options.h included in build of library object.
+#endif
+
 #ifdef WOLFSSL_USER_SETTINGS
     #include "user_settings.h"
 #elif defined(USE_HAL_DRIVER) && !defined(HAVE_CONFIG_H)