diff --git a/src/ast/variables/ExternalVariable.js b/src/ast/variables/ExternalVariable.js
index b8a5672b6d6..097a79b3516 100644
--- a/src/ast/variables/ExternalVariable.js
+++ b/src/ast/variables/ExternalVariable.js
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export default class ExternalVariable extends Variable {
 		return es ? this.safeName : `${this.module.name}.${this.name}`;
 	}
 
-	includeDeclaration () {
+	includeVariable () {
 		if ( this.included ) {
 			return false;
 		}
diff --git a/test/function/samples/keep-used-imports-from-pure-external-modules/_config.js b/test/function/samples/keep-used-imports-from-pure-external-modules/_config.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..97676f56303
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/function/samples/keep-used-imports-from-pure-external-modules/_config.js
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+module.exports = {
+	description: 'imports from pure external modules that are used should not be omitted',
+	options: {
+		external: [ 'warning' ],
+		pureExternalModules: [ 'warning' ]
+	},
+	context: {
+		require: id => {
+			if ( id === 'warning' ) return arg => console.log( arg );
+			throw new Error( 'Unexpected import', id );
+		}
+	}
+};
diff --git a/test/function/samples/keep-used-imports-from-pure-external-modules/main.js b/test/function/samples/keep-used-imports-from-pure-external-modules/main.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..992a4573f52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/function/samples/keep-used-imports-from-pure-external-modules/main.js
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+import warning from 'warning';
+
+warning('hi');