diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/atlas/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/atlas/package.py
index b62d39dde8f..68a91c964b7 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/atlas/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/atlas/package.py
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ def install(self, spec, prefix):
             make("install")
             self.install_test()
 
+    @property
     def libs(self):
         # libsatlas.[so,dylib,dll ] contains all serial APIs (serial lapack,
         # serial BLAS), and all ATLAS symbols needed to support them. Whereas