diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ninja/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ninja/package.py
index a6ee815a2b..ba8e215f5d 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ninja/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ninja/package.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ class Ninja(Package):
     version("1.6.0", sha256="b43e88fb068fe4d92a3dfd9eb4d19755dae5c33415db2e9b7b61b4659009cde7")
 
     depends_on("python", type="build")
+    depends_on("re2c@0.11.3:", type="build")
 
     phases = ["configure", "install"]