diff --git a/packages/py-netpyne/package.py b/packages/py-netpyne/package.py
index c92cca14ce11c22c899e6d470f88271eb14e1fb0..15137fb06f6fad5d3ee43ec0cb35e6f5ea180df6 100644
--- a/packages/py-netpyne/package.py
+++ b/packages/py-netpyne/package.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ class PyNetpyne(PythonPackage):
     depends_on("py-numpy", type=("build", "run"))
     depends_on("py-scipy", type=("build", "run"))
     depends_on("py-matplotlib", type=("build", "run"))
+    depends_on("py-matplotlib@:3.5.1", type=("build", "run"), when="@:1.0.4.1")
     depends_on("py-matplotlib-scalebar", type=("build", "run"))
     depends_on("py-future", type=("build", "run"))
     depends_on("py-pandas", type=("build", "run"))