diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/config.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/config.py
index 90652e94316..a3ba9b6a9dc 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/config.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/config.py
@@ -350,9 +350,12 @@ def _config_change(config_path, match_spec_str=None):
                 if spack.config.get(key_path, scope=scope):
                     ideal_scope_to_modify = scope
                     break
+            # If we find our key in a specific scope, that's the one we want
+            # to modify. Otherwise we use the default write scope.
+            write_scope = ideal_scope_to_modify or spack.config.default_modify_scope()
 
             update_path = f"{key_path}:[{str(spec)}]"
-            spack.config.add(update_path, scope=ideal_scope_to_modify)
+            spack.config.add(update_path, scope=write_scope)
     else:
         raise ValueError("'config change' can currently only change 'require' sections")