diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/examinimd/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/examinimd/package.py
index c05a8b6fafd..92c3880dcd9 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/examinimd/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/examinimd/package.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def build_targets(self):
             targets.append('CXX = {0}'.format(self.spec['mpi'].mpicxx))
         else:
             targets.append('MPI=0')
-            targets.append('CXX = {0}'.format('spack_cxx'))
+            targets.append('CXX = {0}'.format(spack_cxx))
         return targets
 
     def install(self, spec, prefix):