diff --git a/var/spack/packages/lapack/package.py b/var/spack/packages/lapack/package.py
index 25469679edd..9990b0bf337 100644
--- a/var/spack/packages/lapack/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/packages/lapack/package.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 from spack import *
-from subprocess import call
 import sys
 import glob
 
@@ -22,7 +21,7 @@ class Lapack(Package):
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
         # CMake could be used if the build becomes more complex
 
-        call(['cp', 'make.inc.example', 'make.inc'])
+        symlink('make.inc.example', 'make.inc')
 
         # Retrieves name of package that satisifies 'blas' virtual dependency
         blas_name = next(m for m in ('netlib_blas', 'atlas') if m in spec)
diff --git a/var/spack/packages/netlib_blas/package.py b/var/spack/packages/netlib_blas/package.py
index e6b7ec80a48..725bda1309f 100644
--- a/var/spack/packages/netlib_blas/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/packages/netlib_blas/package.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 from spack import *
-from subprocess import call
 
 class NetlibBlas(Package):
     """Netlib reference BLAS"""
@@ -15,7 +14,7 @@ class NetlibBlas(Package):
     parallel = False
 
     def install(self, spec, prefix):
-        call(['cp', 'make.inc.example', 'make.inc'])
+        symlink('make.inc.example', 'make.inc')
         make('blaslib')
         
         # Tests that blas builds correctly
@@ -26,4 +25,4 @@ def install(self, spec, prefix):
         install('librefblas.a', prefix.lib)
 
         # Blas virtual package should provide blas.a
-        call(['ln', '-s', prefix.lib + '/librefblas.a', prefix.lib + '/blas.a'])
\ No newline at end of file
+        symlink(prefix.lib + '/librefblas.a', prefix.lib + '/blas.a')
\ No newline at end of file