diff --git a/include/fmt/base.h b/include/fmt/base.h
index 0d57867782fc..eaa5a2e395bd 100644
--- a/include/fmt/base.h
+++ b/include/fmt/base.h
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 #ifndef FMT_BASE_H_
 #define FMT_BASE_H_
 
+// IWYU pragma: private, include "fmt/format.h"
+
 #if defined(FMT_IMPORT_STD) && !defined(FMT_MODULE)
 #  define FMT_MODULE
 #endif