In this paper we show the existence of solution for the following class of semipositone problem
P$$\left\{\matrix{-\Delta u & = & h(x)(f(u)-a) & \hbox{in} & {\open R}^N, \cr u & \gt & 0 & \hbox{in} & {\open R}^N, \cr}\right.$$
where N ≥ 3, a > 0, h : ℝN → (0, + ∞) and f : [0, + ∞) → [0, + ∞) are continuous functions with f having a subcritical growth. The main tool used is the variational method together with estimates that involve the Riesz potential.