diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ufs-weather-model/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ufs-weather-model/package.py
index b27d112869a..99da0a93c12 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ufs-weather-model/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ufs-weather-model/package.py
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ class UfsWeatherModel(CMakePackage):
     depends_on("sp")
     depends_on("w3emc")
     depends_on("w3nco")
+    depends_on("python", type="build")
 
     def setup_build_environment(self, env):
         spec = self.spec