diff --git a/srcpkgs/wordgrinder/template b/srcpkgs/wordgrinder/template
index f742e039123..65142723bd3 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/wordgrinder/template
+++ b/srcpkgs/wordgrinder/template
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ pkgname=wordgrinder
 version=0.8
 revision=1
 hostmakedepends="pkg-config ninja lua53"
-makedepends="libXft-devel lua53-devel"
+makedepends="libXft-devel lua53-devel ncurses-devel"
 short_desc="Terminal-based word processor"
 maintainer="Andrew Benson <abenson+void@gmail.com>"
 license="MIT"