diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pynacl/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pynacl/package.py
index bd0b0a670a6..5840ac831eb 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pynacl/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pynacl/package.py
@@ -16,3 +16,4 @@ class PyPynacl(PythonPackage):
     depends_on('py-setuptools', type='build')
     depends_on('py-six', type=('build', 'run'))
     depends_on('py-cffi@1.4.1:', type=('build', 'run'))
+    depends_on('py-wheel', type='build')