diff --git a/var/spack/packages/mpfr/package.py b/var/spack/packages/mpfr/package.py
index 3cd8ec41e42..9c744a22df4 100644
--- a/var/spack/packages/mpfr/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/packages/mpfr/package.py
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ class Mpfr(Package):
     version('3.1.3', '5fdfa3cfa5c86514ee4a241a1affa138')
     # version('3.1.2', 'ee2c3ac63bf0c2359bf08fc3ee094c19')
 
+    depends_on('gmp')
+
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
         configure("--prefix=%s" % prefix)
         make()