diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/operating_systems/linux_distro.py b/lib/spack/spack/operating_systems/linux_distro.py
index 758e8bea473..8bb2aa77492 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/operating_systems/linux_distro.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/operating_systems/linux_distro.py
@@ -18,10 +18,8 @@ class LinuxDistro(OperatingSystem):
     def __init__(self):
         try:
             # This will throw an error if imported on a non-Linux platform.
-            from external.distro import linux_distribution
-            distname, version, _ = linux_distribution(
-                full_distribution_name=False)
-            distname, version = str(distname), str(version)
+            import external.distro
+            distname, version = external.distro.id(), external.distro.version()
         except ImportError:
             distname, version = 'unknown', ''