diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gromacs/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gromacs/package.py
index aa663890e8a..13825557617 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gromacs/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gromacs/package.py
@@ -69,8 +69,8 @@ class Gromacs(CMakePackage):
     depends_on('plumed+mpi', when='+plumed+mpi')
     depends_on('plumed~mpi', when='+plumed~mpi')
     depends_on('fftw')
-    depends_on('cmake@2.8.8:', type='build')
-    depends_on('cmake@3.4.3:', type='build', when='@2018:')
+    depends_on('cmake@2.8.8:3.9.99', type='build')
+    depends_on('cmake@3.4.3:3.9.99', type='build', when='@2018:')
     depends_on('cuda', when='+cuda')
 
     def patch(self):