diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tabix/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tabix/package.py
index 96cf6131c5..47208e6e7a 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tabix/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tabix/package.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ class Tabix(MakefilePackage):
 
     depends_on('perl', type=('build', 'run'))
     depends_on('python', type=('build', 'run'))
+    depends_on('zlib', type='link')
 
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
         mkdirp(prefix.bin)