diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/astyle/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/astyle/package.py
index 851952be660..5598373b44d 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/astyle/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/astyle/package.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def build_directory(self):
         return join_path(self.stage.source_path, 'build', self.compiler.name)
 
     def edit(self, spec, prefix):
-        makefile = join_path(self.build_directory(), 'Makefile')
+        makefile = join_path(self.build_directory, 'Makefile')
         filter_file(r'^CXX\s*=.*', 'CXX=%s' % spack_cxx, makefile)
         # strangely enough install -o $(USER) -g $(USER) stoped working on OSX
         if sys.platform == 'darwin':
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/espressopp/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/espressopp/package.py
index 2903a02f7de..06974a38d84 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/espressopp/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/espressopp/package.py
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         return ['-DEXTERNAL_MPI4PY=ON', '-DEXTERNAL_BOOST=ON']
 
     def build(self, spec, prefix):
-        with working_dir(self.build_directory()):
+        with working_dir(self.build_directory):
             make()
             if '+ug' in spec:
                 make("ug", parallel=False)