diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-rgdal/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-rgdal/package.py
index 6b370dff1a..1146e0ff58 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-rgdal/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/r-rgdal/package.py
@@ -26,4 +26,4 @@ class RRgdal(RPackage):
 
     depends_on('r-sp', type=('build', 'run'))
     depends_on('gdal')
-    depends_on('proj')
+    depends_on('proj@:5')