diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/superlu-dist/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/superlu-dist/package.py
index 396f2f091db..51c156047f5 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/superlu-dist/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/superlu-dist/package.py
@@ -91,7 +91,8 @@ def install(self, spec, prefix):
             'INCLUDEDIR   = $(SuperLUroot)/include',
             'LOADOPTS     =',
             'CDEFS        = %s' % ("-DNoChange"
-                                       if '%xl' in spec or '%xl_r' in spec
+                                       if spack_f77.endswith('xlf') or
+                                          spack_f77.endswith('xlf_r')
                                        else "-DAdd_")
         ])