diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/database.py b/lib/spack/spack/database.py
index f3dcdef0a98e0c8858db2102122c7008543e7cee..1240e9a6588b6ee6b509cbf3b51fae276ee24be8 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/database.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/database.py
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ def _increment_ref_count(self, spec, directory_layout=None):
 
             self._data[key] = InstallRecord(spec.copy(), path, installed)
 
-            for dep in spec.dependencies('link'):
+            for dep in spec.dependencies(('link', 'run')):
                 self._increment_ref_count(dep)
 
         self._data[key].ref_count += 1