diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dire/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dire/package.py
index 9b0fde818c9..fd9ae5075c2 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dire/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dire/package.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class Dire(Package):
     depends_on('boost')
     depends_on('lhapdf')
     depends_on('hepmc')
-    depends_on('pythia8@8226:')
+    depends_on('pythia8@8226:8244')
 
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
         configure_args = ['--prefix={0}'.format(prefix)]