diff --git a/var/spack/repos/spack_repo/builtin/packages/metaphysicl/package.py b/var/spack/repos/spack_repo/builtin/packages/metaphysicl/package.py
index 3ba3d88b74f..067fffd8c25 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/spack_repo/builtin/packages/metaphysicl/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/spack_repo/builtin/packages/metaphysicl/package.py
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ class Metaphysicl(AutotoolsPackage):
     version("0.3.3", sha256="6581ec6512d3509bfca6f93052f7d47dd2d9e4b9f2b3580d778495ae381a0b0d")
     version("0.2.0", sha256="ff4f9fad870dcdc85d56fb1f8d94123fecbef9189f967d254ba9607624b5f32e")
 
-    depends_on("cxx", type="build")  # generated
+    depends_on("c", type="build")
+    depends_on("cxx", type="build")
 
     depends_on("autoconf", type="build")
     depends_on("automake", type="build")