diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dbus/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dbus/package.py
index 31495a06b55..f47f7f4b162 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dbus/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dbus/package.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ class Dbus(Package):
     depends_on('pkgconfig', type='build')
     depends_on('expat')
     depends_on('glib')
+    depends_on('libsm')
 
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
         configure(