diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libelf/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libelf/package.py
index 000b4e09578..5af4ab705d7 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libelf/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/libelf/package.py
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ class Libelf(AutotoolsPackage):
     version('0.8.12', 'e21f8273d9f5f6d43a59878dc274fec7')
 
     provides('elf')
-    depends_on('automake', type='build')
 
     def configure_args(self):
         args = ["--enable-shared",