diff --git a/var/spack/packages/parmetis/package.py b/var/spack/packages/parmetis/package.py
index d8cd3373047..8c61cc00c83 100644
--- a/var/spack/packages/parmetis/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/packages/parmetis/package.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ class Parmetis(Package):
 
     version('4.0.3', 'f69c479586bf6bb7aff6a9bc0c739628')
 
+    depends_on('cmake @2.8:')   # build dependency
     depends_on('mpi')
 
     def install(self, spec, prefix):