diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/mgard/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/mgard/package.py
index c3abc1a5cfd..c11ab56c316 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/mgard/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/mgard/package.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ class Mgard(CMakePackage, CudaPackage):
     depends_on("python", type=("build",), when="@2022-11-18:")
     depends_on("sed", type=("build",), when="@2022-11-18:")
     depends_on("zlib-api")
+    depends_on("zlib@1.2.9:", when="^[virtuals=zlib-api] zlib")  # crc32_z
     depends_on("pkgconfig", type=("build",), when="@2022-11-18:")
     depends_on("zstd")
     depends_on("protobuf@3.4:", when="@2022-11-18:")