diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-biostrings/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-biostrings/package.py
index bb4cafa7035..ab37cc73a63 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-biostrings/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-biostrings/package.py
@@ -39,3 +39,4 @@ class RBiostrings(RPackage):
     depends_on('r-s4vectors', type=('build', 'run'))
     depends_on('r-iranges', type=('build', 'run'))
     depends_on('r-xvector', type=('build', 'run'))
+    depends_on('r@3.4.0:3.4.9', when='@2.44.2')