diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tar/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tar/package.py
index c293f620372..d583f7e32ac 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tar/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/tar/package.py
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def determine_version(cls, exe):
         return match.group(1) if match else None
 
     def flag_handler(self, name, flags):
-        if name == "ldflags" and self.spec.satisfies("@1.35"):
+        if name == "ldflags" and self.spec.satisfies("@1.35 ^[virtuals=iconv] libiconv"):
             # https://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/?64441
             flags.append("-liconv")
         return (flags, None, None)