diff --git a/include/wx/osx/private/timer.h b/include/wx/osx/private/timer.h
index 024f6d88ee..caa5efd4cb 100644
--- a/include/wx/osx/private/timer.h
+++ b/include/wx/osx/private/timer.h
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
-#ifdef __WXMAC_CLASSIC__
-#include "wx/osx/classic/private/timer.h"
-#else
-#include "wx/osx/carbon/private/timer.h"
+/* common warning snippet for all osx direct includes */
+
+#ifndef wxOSX_USE_CARBON
+#error "this files should only be included after platform.h was included
+#endif
+
+#if wxOSX_USE_COCOA_OR_IPHONE
+    // this should become the future version also for carbon
+    #include "wx/osx/core/private/timer.h"
+#elif wxOSX_USE_CARBON
+    #include "wx/osx/carbon/private/timer.h"
 #endif