diff --git a/etc/spack/defaults/windows/config.yaml b/etc/spack/defaults/windows/config.yaml
index eaa336dca2b..f54febe9575 100644
--- a/etc/spack/defaults/windows/config.yaml
+++ b/etc/spack/defaults/windows/config.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 config:
   locks: false
   build_stage::
-    - '$spack/.staging'
+    - '$user_cache_path/stage'
   stage_name: '{name}-{version}-{hash:7}'