diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-rsamtools/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-rsamtools/package.py
index 6ce8eae4892..c831f78788b 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-rsamtools/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-rsamtools/package.py
@@ -58,3 +58,8 @@ class RRsamtools(RPackage):
 
     # this is not a listed dependency but is needed
     depends_on("curl")
+    depends_on("zlib-api")
+
+    def patch(self):
+        with working_dir("src"):
+            filter_file(r"(^PKG_LIBS=)(\$\(RHTSLIB_LIBS\))", "\\1\\2 -lz", "Makevars")