diff --git a/src/ripple/nodestore/Database.h b/src/ripple/nodestore/Database.h
index 83cbade65b9..9b5ea694308 100644
--- a/src/ripple/nodestore/Database.h
+++ b/src/ripple/nodestore/Database.h
@@ -27,9 +27,12 @@
 #include <ripple/nodestore/impl/Tuning.h>
 #include <ripple/nodestore/Scheduler.h>
 #include <ripple/nodestore/NodeObject.h>
-#include <ripple/protocol/digest.h>
 #include <ripple/protocol/SystemParameters.h>
 
+#if RIPPLE_VERIFY_NODEOBJECT_KEYS
+#include <ripple/protocol/digest.h>
+#endif
+
 #include <thread>
 
 namespace ripple {