diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nettle/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nettle/package.py
index b00ad893812..35cdb368819 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nettle/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nettle/package.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ class Nettle(AutotoolsPackage, GNUMirrorPackage):
 
     depends_on("gmp")
     depends_on("m4", type="build")
+    depends_on("openssl")
 
     def configure_args(self):
         return ["CFLAGS={0}".format(self.compiler.c99_flag)]