diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-rhtslib/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-rhtslib/package.py
index 4af00938303..0c52ea832e0 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-rhtslib/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-rhtslib/package.py
@@ -39,3 +39,4 @@ class RRhtslib(RPackage):
 
     depends_on('r@3.4.0:3.4.9', when='@1.8.0')
     depends_on('r-zlibbioc', type=('build', 'run'))
+    depends_on('autoconf@2.67:', type='build')