diff --git a/eclass/mate.eclass b/eclass/mate.eclass
index b6c3aa55fb195..d9158a79d611a 100644
--- a/eclass/mate.eclass
+++ b/eclass/mate.eclass
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ GNOME2_LA_PUNT="${MATE_LA_PUNT}"
 inherit gnome2 autotools mate-desktop.org
 
 # Autotools requires our MATE m4 files
-DEPEND=">=mate-base/mate-common-${MATE_BRANCH}"
+BDEPEND=">=mate-base/mate-common-${MATE_BRANCH}"
 
 # @FUNCTION: mate_py_cond_func_wrap
 # @DESCRIPTION: