diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/meson.py b/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/meson.py
index 14fe093f280..3143ee8a432 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/meson.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/build_systems/meson.py
@@ -101,9 +101,9 @@ def _std_args(pkg):
 
         strip = 'true' if '+strip' in pkg.spec else 'false'
 
-        if 'libs=static,shared' in pkg.spec:
+        if 'default_library=static,shared' in pkg.spec:
             default_library = 'both'
-        elif 'libs=static' in pkg.spec:
+        elif 'default_library=static' in pkg.spec:
             default_library = 'static'
         else:
             default_library = 'shared'