diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libpng/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libpng/package.py
index 5e141a40b44..c1c8704bb50 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libpng/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libpng/package.py
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ class Libpng(CMakePackage):
     )
     variant("pic", default=False, description="PIC")
 
+    # Tries but fails to include fp.h, removed in libpng 1.6.45
+    conflicts("@:1.6.44", when="%apple-clang@17:")
+
     @property
     def libs(self):
         # v1.2 does not have a version-less symlink