diff --git a/src/examples/Makefile.am b/src/examples/Makefile.am
index 04f92f3..bb12112 100644
--- a/src/examples/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/examples/Makefile.am
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-AM_CPPFLAGS = $(protobuf_CFLAGS)
 AM_CXXFLAGS = $(WARNING_CXXFLAGS) $(PICKY_CXXFLAGS) $(HARDEN_CFLAGS) $(MISC_CXXFLAGS)
 AM_LDFLAGS  = $(HARDEN_LDFLAGS)
 
@@ -30,11 +29,11 @@ else
 endif
 
 ntester_SOURCES = ntester.cc
-ntester_CPPFLAGS = -I$(srcdir)/../util -I$(srcdir)/../statesync -I$(srcdir)/../terminal -I$(srcdir)/../network -I$(srcdir)/../crypto -I../protobufs $(poll_CFLAGS)
+ntester_CPPFLAGS = -I$(srcdir)/../util -I$(srcdir)/../statesync -I$(srcdir)/../terminal -I$(srcdir)/../network -I$(srcdir)/../crypto -I../protobufs $(poll_CFLAGS) $(protobuf_CFLAGS)
 ntester_LDADD = ../statesync/libmoshstatesync.a ../terminal/libmoshterminal.a ../network/libmoshnetwork.a ../crypto/libmoshcrypto.a ../protobufs/libmoshprotos.a $(poll_LIBS) -lutil -lm $(protobuf_LIBS)
 
 benchmark_SOURCES = benchmark.cc
-benchmark_CPPFLAGS = -I$(srcdir)/../util -I$(srcdir)/../statesync -I$(srcdir)/../terminal -I../protobufs -I$(srcdir)/../frontend -I$(srcdir)/../crypto -I$(srcdir)/../network $(poll_CFLAGS)
+benchmark_CPPFLAGS = -I$(srcdir)/../util -I$(srcdir)/../statesync -I$(srcdir)/../terminal -I../protobufs -I$(srcdir)/../frontend -I$(srcdir)/../crypto -I$(srcdir)/../network $(poll_CFLAGS) $(protobuf_CFLAGS)
 benchmark_LDADD = ../frontend/terminaloverlay.o ../statesync/libmoshstatesync.a ../terminal/libmoshterminal.a ../protobufs/libmoshprotos.a ../network/libmoshnetwork.a ../crypto/libmoshcrypto.a ../util/libmoshutil.a $(poll_LIBS) -lutil -lm $(TINFO_LIBS) $(protobuf_LIBS)
 if COND_THIRD_LIBSTDDJB
   benchmark_CPPFLAGS += -I$(top_srcdir)/third/libstddjb