diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/root/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/root/package.py
index 1f2d002d699..a003d3d5e25 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/root/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/root/package.py
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ class Root(CMakePackage):
     depends_on('cmake@3.4.3:', type='build')
     depends_on('pkg-config',   type='build')
 
+    depends_on('binutils')
     depends_on('zlib')
     # depends_on('unuran')
     depends_on('freetype')