diff --git a/NetworkManager.spec b/NetworkManager.spec
index 6c22a99..405ccf2 100644
--- a/NetworkManager.spec
+++ b/NetworkManager.spec
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 %global real_version 1.54.3
 %global git_tag_version 1.54.3
 %global rpm_version %{real_version}
-%global release_version 1
+%global release_version 2
 %global snapshot %{nil}
 %global git_sha %{nil}
 %global bcond_default_debug 0
@@ -201,8 +201,7 @@ Requires(postun): systemd
 Requires: dbus >= %{dbus_version}
 Requires: glib2 >= %{glib2_version}
 Requires: %{name}-libnm%{?_isa} = %{epoch}:%{version}-%{release}
-
-Recommends: iputils
+Requires: iputils
 
 %if 0%{?rhel} == 8
 # Older libndp versions use select() (rh#1933041). On well known distros,
@@ -1088,6 +1087,9 @@ fi
 
 
 %changelog
+* Wed Jan 7 2026 Beniamino Galvani <bgalvani@redhat.com> - 1:1.54.3-2
+- Add hard dependency on iputils (RHEL-134751)
+
 * Mon Dec 15 2025 Íñigo Huguet <ihuguet@redhat.com> - 1:1.54.3-1
 - Update to 1.54.3
 - Fix CVE-2025-9615 (RHEL-111783)