diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/heppdt/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/heppdt/package.py
index 6279145d50f..06b87ab1fd5 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/heppdt/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/heppdt/package.py
@@ -30,8 +30,9 @@ class Heppdt(AutotoolsPackage):
         preferred=True,
     )
 
-    depends_on("cxx", type="build")  # generated
-    depends_on("fortran", type="build")  # generated
+    depends_on("c", type="build")
+    depends_on("cxx", type="build")
+    depends_on("fortran", type="build")
 
     def patch(self):
         # fix csh redirect in /bin/sh script