diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pmdk/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pmdk/package.py
index fe40f94d756..05faa1e9d6b 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pmdk/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/pmdk/package.py
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ class Pmdk(Package):
     variant("experimental", default=False, description="Build experimental stuff")
     variant("rpmem", default=False, description="Build remote persistent memory components")
 
-    depends_on("cmake", when="@1.12.1:")
-    depends_on("pkgconfig", when="@1.12.1:")
+    depends_on("gmake", type="build")
+    depends_on("pkgconfig", when="@1.12.1:", type="build")
     depends_on("ncurses", when="@1.6:")
     depends_on("libfabric", when="+rpmem")
     # documentation requires doxygen and a bunch of other dependencies