diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/flecsi/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/flecsi/package.py
index aefa2c2d0db..9903c599905 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/flecsi/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/flecsi/package.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ class Flecsi(CMakePackage):
     depends_on("cmake@3.1:", type='build')
     depends_on("legion+shared", when='~mpi')
     depends_on("legion+shared+mpi", when='+mpi')
+    depends_on("parmetis")
 
     def cmake_args(self):
         options = ['-DENABLE_UNIT_TESTS=ON']