diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/root/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/root/package.py
index 80dce3b34b..a6db42c953 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/root/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/root/package.py
@@ -251,7 +251,8 @@ class Root(CMakePackage):
     depends_on('vc',        when='+vc')
     depends_on('vdt',       when='+vdt')
     depends_on('libxml2',   when='+xml')
-    depends_on('xrootd@:4.99.99',    when='+xrootd')
+    depends_on('xrootd',          when='+xrootd')
+    depends_on('xrootd@:4.99.99', when='@:6.22.03 +xrootd')
 
     # ###################### Conflicts ######################