diff --git a/db/config.hh b/db/config.hh
index 52f2f934e7..c822946954 100644
--- a/db/config.hh
+++ b/db/config.hh
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include <boost/program_options/options_description.hpp>
 #include <unordered_map>
 
 #include <seastar/core/sstring.hh>
@@ -28,6 +27,12 @@
 #include "utils/dict_trainer.hh"
 #include "utils/advanced_rpc_compressor.hh"
 
+namespace boost::program_options {
+
+class options_description_easy_init;
+
+}
+
 namespace seastar {
 class file;
 struct logging_settings;