diff --git a/packages/babel-core/src/tools/build-external-helpers.ts b/packages/babel-core/src/tools/build-external-helpers.ts
index 0c9f61e23bc3..fc563b67103c 100644
--- a/packages/babel-core/src/tools/build-external-helpers.ts
+++ b/packages/babel-core/src/tools/build-external-helpers.ts
@@ -177,7 +177,11 @@ function buildHelpers(
     helpers.ensure(name, File);
     const { nodes } = helpers.get(name, getHelperReference, ref);
 
-    body.push(...nodes);
+    body.push(
+      expressionStatement(
+        callExpression(functionExpression(null, [], blockStatement(nodes)), []),
+      ),
+    );
   });
   return refs;
 }