diff --git a/core/src/kmx/kmx_file.h b/common/include/kmx_file.h
similarity index 98%
rename from core/src/kmx/kmx_file.h
rename to common/include/kmx_file.h
index bc32a4acc2..91df31c3b2 100644
--- a/core/src/kmx/kmx_file.h
+++ b/common/include/kmx_file.h
@@ -5,11 +5,14 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include "kmx_base.h"
+#include <km_types.h>
 
+#ifdef KMN_KBP
+// TODO: move this to a common namespace keyman::common::kmx_file or similar in the future
 namespace km {
 namespace kbp {
 namespace kmx {
+#endif
 
 /* */
 
@@ -352,6 +355,8 @@ static_assert(sizeof(COMP_KEY) == KEYBOARDFILEKEY_SIZE, "COMP_KEY must be KEYBOA
 static_assert(sizeof(COMP_GROUP) == KEYBOARDFILEGROUP_SIZE, "COMP_GROUP must be KEYBOARDFILEGROUP_SIZE bytes");
 static_assert(sizeof(COMP_KEYBOARD) == KEYBOARDFILEHEADER_SIZE, "COMP_KEYBOARD must be KEYBOARDFILEHEADER_SIZE bytes");
 
+#ifdef KMN_KBP
 } // namespace kmx
 } // namespace kbp
 } // namespace km
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/meson.build b/core/meson.build
index ed5e33bdbb..cad35decec 100644
--- a/core/meson.build
+++ b/core/meson.build
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@ message('compiler.get_id(): ' + compiler.get_id())
 
 cc = meson.get_compiler('c')
 
+# TODO: Shared includes may use namespaces, etc which need future tidyup.
+# For now, we use KMN_KBP to inject the km::kbp::kmx namespace
+defns = ['-DKMN_KBP']
+
 subdir('doc')
 subdir('include')
 subdir('src')
diff --git a/core/src/meson.build b/core/src/meson.build
index 1e3b6e82fc..ebca69b599 100644
--- a/core/src/meson.build
+++ b/core/src/meson.build
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 # Authors:      Tim Eves (TSE)
 #
 
-defns = ['-DKMN_KBP_EXPORTING']
+defns += ['-DKMN_KBP_EXPORTING']
 version_res = []
 
 if compiler.get_id() == 'gcc' or compiler.get_id() == 'clang'
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ endif
 if compiler.get_id() == 'emscripten'
   warns = []
   flags = []
-  defns = []
+  defns = ['-DKMN_KBP']
   links = []
 endif
 
diff --git a/core/tests/unit/kmnkbd/meson.build b/core/tests/unit/kmnkbd/meson.build
index 2a794ec1cb..4cdaa91186 100644
--- a/core/tests/unit/kmnkbd/meson.build
+++ b/core/tests/unit/kmnkbd/meson.build
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ else
   warns = []
 endif
 
-defns=['-DKMN_KBP_STATIC']
+defns+=['-DKMN_KBP_STATIC']
 tests = [
   ['context-api', 'context_api.cpp'],
   ['keyboard-api', 'keyboard_api.cpp'],
diff --git a/core/tests/unit/kmnkbd/test_kmx_xstring.cpp b/core/tests/unit/kmnkbd/test_kmx_xstring.cpp
index 3b944028c3..eec1894c0a 100644
--- a/core/tests/unit/kmnkbd/test_kmx_xstring.cpp
+++ b/core/tests/unit/kmnkbd/test_kmx_xstring.cpp
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <iterator>
 #include <string>
 #include "../../../src/kmx/kmx_xstring.h"
-#include "../../../src/kmx/kmx_file.h"
+#include <kmx_file.h>
 #include "../test_assert.h"
 
 using namespace km::kbp::kmx;