diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/samrai/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/samrai/package.py
index c9bb34d5475..5100d71583e 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/samrai/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/samrai/package.py
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ def configure_args(self):
             '--with-hypre=no',
             '--with-petsc=no'])
 
-        if '+debug' in spec:
+        if '+debug' in self.spec:
             options.extend([
                 '--disable-opt',
                 '--enable-debug'])