diff --git a/src/qt/test/apptests.cpp b/src/qt/test/apptests.cpp
--- a/src/qt/test/apptests.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/test/apptests.cpp
@@ -29,8 +29,20 @@
 #include <QTest>
 #include <QTextEdit>
 #include <QtGlobal>
-#include <QtTest/QtTestGui>
+/*
+ * FIXME: <QtTest/QtTestGui> requires QT_WIDGETS_LIB to be defined prior
+ * inclusion to export the QtTest::keyClicks symbol.
+ * On some older Qt versions the definition end up being set by the inclusion of
+ * <QtTest/QtTestWidgets>.
+ * This only occurs when building with autotools, as QMake and CMake define
+ * QT_WIDGETS_LIB on the command line. As a workaround for autotools,
+ * <QtTest/QtTestWidgets> should be included before <QtTest/QtTestGui>.
+ * Also prevent the linter from sorting the includes.
+ */
+// clang-format off
 #include <QtTest/QtTestWidgets>
+#include <QtTest/QtTestGui>
+// clang-format on
 
 #include <univalue.h>