diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/oracle-instant-client/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/oracle-instant-client/package.py
index 63cd8ef41a..9155132e58 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/oracle-instant-client/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/oracle-instant-client/package.py
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ class OracleInstantClient(Package):
             condition = "@{0}".format(oracle_version)
             resource(name=rname, url=url, sha256=sha256, when=condition, placement=rname)
 
+    depends_on('libaio', type='link')
+
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
         mkdirp(prefix.bin)
         mkdirp(prefix.include)