diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/directory_layout.py b/lib/spack/spack/directory_layout.py
index 9f174040627..dfd0dc42e4f 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/directory_layout.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/directory_layout.py
@@ -498,3 +498,10 @@ def __init__(self, spec, ext_spec):
         super(NoSuchExtensionError, self).__init__(
             "%s cannot be removed from %s because it's not activated."% (
                 ext_spec.short_spec, spec.short_spec))
+
+class DependencyConflictError(SpackError):
+    """Raised when the dependencies cannot be flattened as asked for."""
+    def __init__(self, conflict):
+        super(DependencyConflictError, self).__init__(
+            "%s conflicts with another file in the flattened directory." %(
+                conflict))