diff --git a/patterns-base.spec b/patterns-base.spec
index 22e54e7..8ded9b4 100644
--- a/patterns-base.spec
+++ b/patterns-base.spec
@@ -694,6 +694,8 @@ Provides:       pattern-icon() = yast-sw_single
 Provides:       pattern-order() = 1360
 Provides:       pattern-visible()
 Recommends:     pattern() = sw_management_x11
+# Zypper is the basic sw_management stack for *SUSE
+Requires:       zypper
 
 %description sw_management
 This pattern provides a graphical application and a command line tool for keeping your system up to date.