diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/environment/environment.py b/lib/spack/spack/environment/environment.py
index a6be5d1c500..3114f55638e 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/environment/environment.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/environment/environment.py
@@ -1500,10 +1500,8 @@ def install_specs(self, specs=None, **install_args):
 
         if not specs_to_install:
             tty.msg('All of the packages are already installed')
-            return
-
-        tty.debug('Processing {0} uninstalled specs'.format(
-            len(specs_to_install)))
+        else:
+            tty.debug('Processing {0} uninstalled specs'.format(len(specs_to_install)))
 
         install_args['overwrite'] = install_args.get(
             'overwrite', []) + self._get_overwrite_specs()