diff --git a/lisp/tab-line.el b/lisp/tab-line.el
index 247859aae13..e277d1fb9ed 100644
--- a/lisp/tab-line.el
+++ b/lisp/tab-line.el
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 
 (require 'cl-lib)
 (require 'seq) ; tab-line.el is not pre-loaded so it's safe to use it here
+(require 'icons)
 
 
 (defgroup tab-line nil