diff --git a/storage/database/Cargo.toml b/storage/database/Cargo.toml
index 817577f5..91b2904e 100644
--- a/storage/database/Cargo.toml
+++ b/storage/database/Cargo.toml
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ keywords    = ["cuprate", "database"]
 default     = ["heed"]
 # default     = ["redb"]
 # default     = ["redb-memory"]
-heed        = []
+heed        = ["dep:cuprate-helper"]
 redb        = ["dep:redb"]
 redb-memory = ["redb"]
 
 [dependencies]
-cuprate-helper = { workspace = true, features = ["cast"] }
+cuprate-helper = { workspace = true, features = ["cast"], optional = true }
 
 bytemuck  = { version = "1.18.0", features = ["must_cast", "derive", "min_const_generics", "extern_crate_alloc"] }
 bytes     = { workspace = true }