diff --git a/fmt/format.h b/fmt/format.h
index 6ee9d2a2..88ab31a3 100644
--- a/fmt/format.h
+++ b/fmt/format.h
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #ifndef FMT_FORMAT_H_
 #define FMT_FORMAT_H_
 
+#define FMT_INCLUDE
 #include <cassert>
 #include <clocale>
 #include <cmath>
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 #include <utility>  // for std::pair
+#undef FMT_INCLUDE
 
 // The fmt library version in the form major * 10000 + minor * 100 + patch.
 #define FMT_VERSION 40000
diff --git a/fmt/string.h b/fmt/string.h
index ccf46ee1..2f487f4d 100644
--- a/fmt/string.h
+++ b/fmt/string.h
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@
  For the license information refer to format.h.
  */
 
+#ifdef FMT_INCLUDE
+# error Add the fmt's parent directory and not fmt itself to includes.
+#endif
+
 #ifndef FMT_STRING_H_
 #define FMT_STRING_H_