diff --git a/c++/src/H5IdComponent.cpp b/c++/src/H5IdComponent.cpp
index 908343c0c5..fb12e6161d 100644
--- a/c++/src/H5IdComponent.cpp
+++ b/c++/src/H5IdComponent.cpp
@@ -15,11 +15,11 @@
 #include <iostream>
 #endif /*H5_VMS*/
 #include <string>
+#ifndef H5_VMS
 #ifndef H5_NO_NAMESPACE
-#ifdef H5_VMS
     using std::count;
-#endif /*H5_VMS*/
 #endif
+#endif /*H5_VMS*/
 
 #include "H5Include.h"
 #include "H5Exception.h"