diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/plink2/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/plink2/package.py
index 569d76ee65e..f1c2b439cf5 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/plink2/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/plink2/package.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class Plink2(MakefilePackage):
     version("2.00a4.3", tag="v2.00a4.3", commit="59fca48f6f8135886ff68962fbe31ae0c6413228")
 
     depends_on("zlib-api")
-    depends_on("zlib@1.2.12:", when="^zlib")
+    depends_on("zlib@1.2.12:", when="^[virtuals=zlib-api] zlib")
     depends_on("zstd@1.5.2:")
     depends_on("libdeflate@1.10:")
     depends_on("blas")