diff --git a/src/corelib/kernel/qmetatype.h b/src/corelib/kernel/qmetatype.h
index 7dacc837a3..717e72c810 100644
--- a/src/corelib/kernel/qmetatype.h
+++ b/src/corelib/kernel/qmetatype.h
@@ -45,10 +45,6 @@
 #include <QtCore/qglobal.h>
 #include <QtCore/qatomic.h>
 
-#ifndef QT_NO_DATASTREAM
-#include <QtCore/qdatastream.h>
-#endif
-
 #include <new>
 
 #ifdef Bool
@@ -178,6 +174,8 @@ QT_MODULE(Core)
 #define QT_DEFINE_METATYPE_ID(TypeName, Id, Name) \
     TypeName = Id,
 
+class QDataStream;
+
 class Q_CORE_EXPORT QMetaType {
 public:
     enum Type {