diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/magics/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/magics/package.py
index f16d149b767..2295cb25a84 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/magics/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/magics/package.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class Magics(CMakePackage):
     depends_on('perl-xml-parser', type='build')
 
     # Non-optional dependencies
-    depends_on('proj')
+    depends_on('proj@:5')
     depends_on('boost')
     depends_on('expat')