diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gobject-introspection/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gobject-introspection/package.py
index aceec83cd2..4cfb8deae9 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gobject-introspection/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gobject-introspection/package.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ class GobjectIntrospection(Package):
     # version 1.48.0 build fails with glib 2.49.4
     depends_on("glib@2.48.1", when="@1.48.0")
     depends_on("python")
-    depends_on("cairo")
+    depends_on("cairo+gobject")
     depends_on("bison", type="build")
     depends_on("flex", type="build")
     depends_on("pkgconfig", type="build")