diff --git a/src/nm-types.h b/src/nm-types.h
index 43b931dad3..22ec623e3b 100644
--- a/src/nm-types.h
+++ b/src/nm-types.h
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ typedef struct _NMConfigDeviceStateData NMConfigDeviceStateData;
 
 struct _NMDedupMultiIndex;
 
+typedef struct _NMRefString NMRefString;
+
 /*****************************************************************************/
 
 typedef enum {