diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/esmf/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/esmf/package.py
index f1f1522a05f..c33cfda32eb 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/esmf/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/esmf/package.py
@@ -330,9 +330,8 @@ def setup_build_environment(self, env):
             # ESMF code.
             env.set("ESMF_LAPACK", "system")
 
-            # FIXME: determine whether or not we need to set this
             # Specifies the path where the LAPACK library is located.
-            # env.set("ESMF_LAPACK_LIBPATH", spec["lapack"].prefix.lib)
+            env.set("ESMF_LAPACK_LIBPATH", spec["lapack"].prefix.lib)
 
             # Specifies the linker directive needed to link the LAPACK library
             # to the application.