diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libcatalyst/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libcatalyst/package.py
index ce3a4c7e9f4..323542444d2 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libcatalyst/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libcatalyst/package.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ class Libcatalyst(CMakePackage):
 
     depends_on("mpi", when="+mpi")
     depends_on("conduit", when="+conduit")
+    depends_on("cmake@3.26:", type="build")
 
     def cmake_args(self):
         """Populate cmake arguments for libcatalyst."""