diff --git a/lib/h5md/include/ch5md.h b/lib/h5md/include/ch5md.h
index 351e337ed4..8fefc9565d 100644
--- a/lib/h5md/include/ch5md.h
+++ b/lib/h5md/include/ch5md.h
@@ -9,13 +9,13 @@
 #ifndef CH5MD_H
 #define CH5MD_H
 
+#include "hdf5.h"
+#include <stdbool.h>
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
-#include "hdf5.h"
-#include <stdbool.h>
-
 #define CH5MD_RANK_ERROR -10
 
 typedef struct h5md_element_struct {