diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/global/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/global/package.py
index e8f06516d9a..aac1cede30f 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/global/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/global/package.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ class Global(Package):
     version('6.5', 'dfec818b4f53d91721e247cf7b218078')
 
     depends_on('exuberant-ctags')
+    depends_on('ncurses')
 
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
         config_args = ['--prefix={0}'.format(prefix)]