diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/package.py b/lib/spack/spack/package.py
index bc39c6400d7..a883f8646e2 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/package.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/package.py
@@ -1181,8 +1181,9 @@ def build_process():
                 else:
                     self.do_stage()
 
-            tty.msg("Building {0} [{1}]".format(
-                self.name, type(self).__base__))
+            tty.msg(
+                'Building {0} [{1}]'.format(self.name, self.build_system_class)
+            )
 
             self.stage.keep = keep_stage
             self.build_directory = join_path(self.stage.path, 'spack-build')