diff --git a/tools/net/ynl/ynl-gen-c.py b/tools/net/ynl/ynl-gen-c.py
index 2bf4d992e54a7..8098bcbb6f404 100755
--- a/tools/net/ynl/ynl-gen-c.py
+++ b/tools/net/ynl/ynl-gen-c.py
@@ -2782,12 +2782,17 @@ def main():
         else:
             cw.p(f'#include "{hdr_file}"')
             cw.p('#include "ynl.h"')
-        headers = [parsed.uapi_header]
+        headers = []
     for definition in parsed['definitions']:
         if 'header' in definition:
             headers.append(definition['header'])
+    if args.mode == 'user':
+        headers.append(parsed.uapi_header)
+    seen_header = []
     for one in headers:
-        cw.p(f"#include <{one}>")
+        if one not in seen_header:
+            cw.p(f"#include <{one}>")
+            seen_header.append(one)
     cw.nl()
 
     if args.mode == "user":