diff --git a/spacenavd.changes b/spacenavd.changes
index 992a583..cf5151b 100644
--- a/spacenavd.changes
+++ b/spacenavd.changes
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+-------------------------------------------------------------------
+Thu Oct 27 11:50:40 UTC 2016 - dan.weatherill@cantab.net
+
+- add xdpyinfo package as explicit dependency, it is required for
+the spnavd_ctl script to work properly
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 Mon Mar  2 20:45:40 UTC 2015 - herbert@graeber-clan.de
 
diff --git a/spacenavd.spec b/spacenavd.spec
index 81f3943..fd28b05 100644
--- a/spacenavd.spec
+++ b/spacenavd.spec
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ SOurce4:       %{name}.service
 BuildRoot:     %{_tmppath}/%{name}-%{version}-build
 BuildRequires: xorg-x11
 BuildRequires: xorg-x11-devel
+Requires:      xdpyinfo
 %if 0%{?suse_version} > 1140
 BuildRequires: pkgconfig(systemd)
 %{?systemd_requires}