diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hdf5/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hdf5/package.py
index 5e82818697d..3b646f825cd 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hdf5/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/hdf5/package.py
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def configure_args(self):
         if '+pic' in spec:
             extra_args.append('CFLAGS={0}'.format(self.compiler.pic_flag))
             extra_args.append('CXXFLAGS={0}'.format(self.compiler.pic_flag))
-            extra_args.append('FFLAGS={0}'.format(self.compiler.pic_flag))
+            extra_args.append('FCFLAGS={0}'.format(self.compiler.pic_flag))
 
         if '+mpi' in spec:
             # The HDF5 configure script warns if cxx and mpi are enabled