diff --git a/packages/py-pyspike/package.py b/packages/py-pyspike/package.py
index 2821f79a378118820818176a8f3d6dd73ef52946..2a763ee0510f5418d8d74aee8225fcf2e13b443c 100644
--- a/packages/py-pyspike/package.py
+++ b/packages/py-pyspike/package.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class PyPyspike(PythonPackage):
     depends_on('py-scipy', type=('build', 'run'))
     depends_on('py-matplotlib', type=('build', 'run'))
     depends_on('py-pytest', type=('build', 'run'))
-    depends_on('py-cython', type=('build', 'run'))
+    depends_on('py-cython@:2', type=('build', 'run'))
 
     # Test dependency
     depends_on('py-pytest@:7.1', type='test')