diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/abinit/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/abinit/package.py
index 9eb6c528291..d2ba73c8723 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/abinit/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/abinit/package.py
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ def configure_args(self):
             if spec.satisfies("@:8"):
                 oapp("--with-dft-flavor=atompaw+libxc")
             else:
-                "--without-wannier90",
+                oapp("--without-wannier90")
 
         if spec.satisfies("+mpi"):
             oapp(f"CC={spec['mpi'].mpicc}")