diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gpgme/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gpgme/package.py
index b6e8dde011b..444f21dedfa 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gpgme/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gpgme/package.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class Gpgme(AutotoolsPackage):
 
     depends_on("gnupg", type="build")
     depends_on("libgpg-error", type="build")
-    depends_on("libassuan", type="build")
+    depends_on("libassuan@2.4.2:2", type=("build", "link"))
 
     @classmethod
     def determine_version(cls, exe):