diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/binary_distribution.py b/lib/spack/spack/binary_distribution.py
index 05a79048151..1659b392838 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/binary_distribution.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/binary_distribution.py
@@ -604,13 +604,9 @@ def is_backup_file(file):
 
 # If we are installing back to the same location don't replace anything
     if old_layout_root != new_layout_root:
-        paths_to_relocate = [old_spack_prefix, old_layout_root]
-        paths_to_relocate.extend(prefix_to_hash.keys())
-        files_to_relocate = list(filter(
-            lambda pathname: not relocate.file_is_relocatable(
-                pathname, paths_to_relocate=paths_to_relocate),
-            map(lambda filename: os.path.join(workdir, filename),
-                buildinfo['relocate_binaries'])))
+        files_to_relocate = [os.path.join(workdir, filename)
+                             for filename in buildinfo.get('relocate_binaries')
+                             ]
         # If the buildcache was not created with relativized rpaths
         # do the relocation of path in binaries
         if (spec.architecture.platform == 'darwin' or
@@ -646,6 +642,13 @@ def is_backup_file(file):
                                new_spack_prefix,
                                prefix_to_prefix)
 
+        paths_to_relocate = [old_prefix, old_layout_root]
+        paths_to_relocate.extend(prefix_to_hash.keys())
+        files_to_relocate = list(filter(
+            lambda pathname: not relocate.file_is_relocatable(
+                pathname, paths_to_relocate=paths_to_relocate),
+            map(lambda filename: os.path.join(workdir, filename),
+                buildinfo['relocate_binaries'])))
         # relocate the install prefixes in binary files including dependencies
         relocate.relocate_text_bin(files_to_relocate,
                                    old_prefix, new_prefix,