diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/vtk-m/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/vtk-m/package.py
index 74ed09c58c..c08f464455 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/vtk-m/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/vtk-m/package.py
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ class VtkM(CMakePackage, CudaPackage):
     depends_on("cmake@3.12:", type="build")               # CMake >= 3.12
     depends_on("cmake@3.18:", when="+hip", type="build")  # CMake >= 3.18
 
+    conflicts('%gcc@:4.10',
+              msg='vtk-m requires gcc >= 5. Please install a newer version')
+
     depends_on('cuda@10.1.0:', when='+cuda')
     depends_on("tbb", when="+tbb")
     depends_on("mpi", when="+mpi")