diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gcc/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gcc/package.py
index f21f11a5932..b3d8c881fc7 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gcc/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gcc/package.py
@@ -974,7 +974,7 @@ def write_specs_file(self):
 
             # rpath
             if rpath_dir:
-                f.write(f"*link_libgcc:\n+ -rpath={rpath_dir}\n\n")
+                f.write(f"*link_libgcc:\n+ -rpath {rpath_dir}\n\n")
 
             # programs search path
             if self.spec.satisfies("+binutils"):