diff --git a/cppcanvas/CppunitTest_cppcanvas_test.mk b/cppcanvas/CppunitTest_cppcanvas_test.mk
index 9a09565455fd..8112fd3d193d 100644
--- a/cppcanvas/CppunitTest_cppcanvas_test.mk
+++ b/cppcanvas/CppunitTest_cppcanvas_test.mk
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ $(eval $(call gb_CppunitTest_add_exception_objects,cppcanvas_test, \
 
 $(eval $(call gb_CppunitTest_unset_headless,cppcanvas_test))
 
+$(eval $(call gb_CppunitTest_use_external,cppcanvas_test,boost_headers))
+
 $(eval $(call gb_CppunitTest_use_libraries,cppcanvas_test, \
 	cppcanvas \
 	basegfx \