diff --git a/include/rapidjson/internal/meta.h b/include/rapidjson/internal/meta.h
index bcff1a5..d83e1f1 100644
--- a/include/rapidjson/internal/meta.h
+++ b/include/rapidjson/internal/meta.h
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@
 #ifndef RAPIDJSON_INTERNAL_META_H_
 #define RAPIDJSON_INTERNAL_META_H_
 
+#ifndef RAPIDJSON_RAPIDJSON_H_
+#error <rapidjson.h> not yet included. Do not include this file directly.
+#endif
+
 #ifdef __GNUC__
 RAPIDJSON_DIAG_PUSH
 RAPIDJSON_DIAG_OFF(effc++)