diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openssh/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openssh/package.py
index 245accc938f..fa692c1d2b6 100755
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openssh/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openssh/package.py
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ class Openssh(AutotoolsPackage):
     depends_on("ncurses")
     depends_on("zlib")
     depends_on("py-twisted", type="test")
+    depends_on("libxcrypt", type="link")
 
     maintainers = ["bernhardkaindl"]
     executables = [