diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/swig/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/swig/package.py
index 2bb9853526..96ad9847af 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/swig/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/swig/package.py
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ class Swig(AutotoolsPackage, SourceforgePackage):
     )
 
     depends_on("pcre")
+    depends_on("zlib")
 
     AUTOCONF_VERSIONS = ["@master", "@fortran", "@4.0.2-fortran", "@4.1.dev1-fortran"]