diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/glew/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/glew/package.py
index 529506a416f..7901fd5e678 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/glew/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/glew/package.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ class Glew(Package):
     version('2.0.0',  '2a2cd7c98f13854d2fcddae0d2b20411')
 
     depends_on("cmake", type='build')
+    depends_on("gl")
 
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
         options = []