diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-wxpython/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-wxpython/package.py
index 3c4d8def706..dac58dcd9bb 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-wxpython/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-wxpython/package.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ class PyWxpython(PythonPackage):
     depends_on("c", type="build")  # generated
     depends_on("cxx", type="build")  # generated
 
-    depends_on("wxwidgets")
+    depends_on("wxwidgets +gui")
 
     # Needed for the build.py script
     depends_on("py-setuptools", type="build")