diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/lua/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/lua/package.py
index 1c6b152aa34..e00e499abcf 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/lua/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/lua/package.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def install(self, spec, prefix):
              'MYLDFLAGS=-L%s -L%s' % (
                  spec['readline'].prefix.lib,
                  spec['ncurses'].prefix.lib),
-             'MYLIBS=-lncursesw',
+             'MYLIBS=-lncursesw -ltermcap',
              'CC=%s -std=gnu99 %s' % (spack_cc,
                                       self.compiler.cc_pic_flag),
              target)