diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/env.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/env.py
index d6bc5c8910b..7cf045937bf 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/env.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/env.py
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ def test_env_install_same_spec_twice(install_mockery, mock_fetch):
 
         # The second installation reports all packages already installed
         out = install("cmake-client")
-        assert "Executing phase" not in output
+        assert "Executing phase" not in out
 
 
 def test_env_definition_symlink(install_mockery, mock_fetch, tmpdir):