diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/adept-utils/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/adept-utils/package.py
index 12cb357f9a..b3ea06eac2 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/adept-utils/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/adept-utils/package.py
@@ -15,6 +15,6 @@ class AdeptUtils(CMakePackage):
     version('1.0.1', sha256='259f777aeb368ede3583d3617bb779f0fde778319bf2122fdd216bdf223c015e')
     version('1.0',   sha256='fed29366c9bcf5f3799220ae3b351d2cb338e2aa42133d61584ea650aa8d6ff7')
 
-    depends_on('boost')
+    depends_on('boost@:1.72.0')
     depends_on('mpi')
     depends_on('cmake@2.8:', type='build')