diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ncview/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ncview/package.py
index 96666a29be2..9245a267504 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ncview/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/ncview/package.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def configure_args(self):
 
         config_args = []
 
-        if spec.satisfies('^netcdf+mpi'):
+        if spec.satisfies('^netcdf-c+mpi'):
             config_args.append('CC={0}'.format(spec['mpi'].mpicc))
 
         return config_args