diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/environment.py b/lib/spack/spack/environment.py
index 49a71d37b4f..57a7f8c454b 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/environment.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/environment.py
@@ -663,6 +663,7 @@ def install_all(self, args=None):
             with fs.working_dir(self.path):
                 spec.package.do_install(**kwargs)
 
+            if not spec.external:
                 # Link the resulting log file into logs dir
                 build_log_link = os.path.join(
                     log_path, '%s-%s.log' % (spec.name, spec.dag_hash(7)))