diff --git a/layers/+filetree/treemacs/packages.el b/layers/+filetree/treemacs/packages.el
index fb065df16..70853ba05 100644
--- a/layers/+filetree/treemacs/packages.el
+++ b/layers/+filetree/treemacs/packages.el
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@
 
 (defun treemacs/init-treemacs-evil ()
   (use-package treemacs-evil
+    :demand t
     :after treemacs
     :if (memq dotspacemacs-editing-style '(vim hybrid))))