diff --git a/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/config_protobuf.h b/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/config_protobuf.h
index 4bee1bc422796583e834261210eff318ecf7f186..e1198f0ea030ec55cf2092419056f56793489e96 100644
--- a/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/config_protobuf.h
+++ b/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/config_protobuf.h
@@ -40,9 +40,14 @@
 #endif
 
 #ifndef GRPC_CUSTOM_MESSAGE
+#ifdef GRPC_USE_PROTO_LITE
+#include <google/protobuf/message_lite.h>
+#define GRPC_CUSTOM_MESSAGE ::google::protobuf::MessageLite
+#else
 #include <google/protobuf/message.h>
 #define GRPC_CUSTOM_MESSAGE ::google::protobuf::Message
 #endif
+#endif
 
 #ifndef GRPC_CUSTOM_DESCRIPTOR
 #include <google/protobuf/descriptor.h>