diff --git a/lib/spack/env/cc b/lib/spack/env/cc
index a573b2e2371..b603c3bc321 100755
--- a/lib/spack/env/cc
+++ b/lib/spack/env/cc
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ fi
 #    ld      link
 #    ccld    compile & link
 
-command=$(basename "$0")
+command="${0##*/}"
 comp="CC"
 case "$command" in
     cpp)