diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/spec.py b/lib/spack/spack/spec.py
index 06ffbb8327f..4ffe1bf3ab9 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/spec.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/spec.py
@@ -619,6 +619,7 @@ class CompilerSpec:
     __slots__ = "name", "versions"
 
     def __init__(self, *args):
+        raise TypeError("CompilerSpec is being removed")
         nargs = len(args)
         if nargs == 1:
             arg = args[0]