diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/compiler.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/compiler.py
index 7478f7dec73..814faabf263 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/compiler.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/compiler.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def setup_parser(subparser):
     find_parser.add_argument(
         "--scope",
         action=arguments.ConfigScope,
-        default=lambda: spack.config.default_modify_scope("compilers"),
+        default=lambda: spack.config.default_modify_scope("packages"),
         help="configuration scope to modify",
     )
     arguments.add_common_arguments(find_parser, ["jobs"])
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/compilers/config.py b/lib/spack/spack/compilers/config.py
index 9b95d00e005..22e611e1438 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/compilers/config.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/compilers/config.py
@@ -49,10 +49,6 @@ def compiler_config_files():
         if from_packages_yaml:
             config_files.append(configuration.get_config_filename(name, "packages"))
 
-        compiler_config = configuration.get("compilers", scope=name)
-        if compiler_config:
-            config_files.append(configuration.get_config_filename(name, "compilers"))
-
     return config_files
 
 
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/detection/common.py b/lib/spack/spack/detection/common.py
index d472ec45861..b908dd24f57 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/detection/common.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/detection/common.py
@@ -224,6 +224,7 @@ def update_configuration(
             pkg_config["buildable"] = False
         pkg_to_cfg[package_name] = pkg_config
 
+    scope = scope or spack.config.default_modify_scope()
     pkgs_cfg = spack.config.get("packages", scope=scope)
     pkgs_cfg = spack.schema.merge_yaml(pkgs_cfg, pkg_to_cfg)
     spack.config.set("packages", pkgs_cfg, scope=scope)