We study R⁴ corrections in heterotic M-theory. We derive to order kappa^4/3 the induced modification to the Kahler potential of the universal moduli. We investigate the deformations of the background geometry due to the R⁴ term. The warp-factor deformation of the background M₄ x CY₃ x (S¹/Z₂) can no longer be integrated to a fully non-linear solution, unlike when neglecting higher derivative corrections. We find explicit solutions to order kappa^4/3 and, in particular, find the expected shift of the Calabi-Yau volume by a constant proportional to the Euler number. We also study the effect induced by the R⁴ terms on the de Sitter vacua found previously by balancing two non-perturbative contributions to the superpotential.