diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-hdf5array/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-hdf5array/package.py
index 878fbd7665a..6bcab45c307 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-hdf5array/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-hdf5array/package.py
@@ -52,3 +52,4 @@ class RHdf5array(RPackage):
     depends_on("r-iranges", type=("build", "run"))
     depends_on("r-rhdf5lib", type=("build", "run"), when="@1.12.3:")
     depends_on("gmake", type="build")
+    depends_on("zlib")