diff --git a/packages/nest/package.py b/packages/nest/package.py
index 956224f703e3ac20f9b7f3ac5278a00c414c9caa..302c2aaaf62bc001794a01c7dc062e5b57da32ae 100644
--- a/packages/nest/package.py
+++ b/packages/nest/package.py
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ class Nest(CMakePackage):
     depends_on('doxygen', type='build')
     depends_on('gsl', when='+gsl')
     depends_on('readline')
+    depends_on('ncurses')
     depends_on('libtool')
     depends_on('pkgconfig', type='build')
 
@@ -110,14 +111,12 @@ class Nest(CMakePackage):
             env['F77'] = spec['mpi'].mpif77
             env['FC'] = spec['mpi'].mpifc
 
-        configure(*self.cmake_args(spec, prefix))
+        configure(*configure_args)
         make()
         make("install")
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        args = [
-            "--prefix=" + prefix,
-        ]
+        args = []
 
         if '+mpi' in self.spec:
             args.append('-Dwith-mpi=ON')