diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-matplotlib/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-matplotlib/package.py
index 719f777e8b..033fc6de53 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-matplotlib/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-matplotlib/package.py
@@ -266,7 +266,8 @@ class PyMatplotlib(PythonPackage):
 
     # Testing dependencies
     # Required
-    depends_on("freetype@2.6.1 build_system=autotools", type="test")
+    # https://github.com/spack/spack/issues/43597
+    # depends_on("freetype@2.6.1 build_system=autotools", type="test")
     depends_on("py-pytest@7:", type="test")
 
     msg = "MacOSX backend requires macOS 10.12+"