diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/build_environment.py b/lib/spack/spack/build_environment.py
index f83c93a6c9c..853047fde80 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/build_environment.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/build_environment.py
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@
 from spack.util.environment import (
     SYSTEM_DIR_CASE_ENTRY,
     EnvironmentModifications,
+    ModificationList,
     PrependPath,
     env_flag,
     filter_system_paths,
@@ -761,10 +762,23 @@ def setup_package(pkg, dirty, context: Context = Context.BUILD):
     tty.debug("setup_package: collected all modifications from dependencies")
 
     tty.debug("setup_package: adding compiler wrappers paths")
-    for x in env_mods.group_by_name()["SPACK_ENV_PATH"]:
+    env_by_name = env_mods.group_by_name()
+    for x in env_by_name["SPACK_ENV_PATH"]:
         assert isinstance(x, PrependPath), "unexpected setting used for SPACK_ENV_PATH"
         env_mods.prepend_path("PATH", x.value)
 
+    # Check whether we want to force RPATH or RUNPATH
+    enable_var_name, disable_var_name = "SPACK_ENABLE_NEW_DTAGS", "SPACK_DISABLE_NEW_DTAGS"
+    if enable_var_name in env_by_name and disable_var_name in env_by_name:
+        enable_new_dtags = _extract_dtags_arg(env_by_name, var_name=enable_var_name)
+        disable_new_dtags = _extract_dtags_arg(env_by_name, var_name=disable_var_name)
+        if spack.config.CONFIG.get("config:shared_linking:type") == "rpath":
+            env_mods.set("SPACK_DTAGS_TO_STRIP", enable_new_dtags)
+            env_mods.set("SPACK_DTAGS_TO_ADD", disable_new_dtags)
+        else:
+            env_mods.set("SPACK_DTAGS_TO_STRIP", disable_new_dtags)
+            env_mods.set("SPACK_DTAGS_TO_ADD", enable_new_dtags)
+
     if context == Context.TEST:
         env_mods.prepend_path("PATH", ".")
     elif context == Context.BUILD and not dirty and not env_mods.is_unset("CPATH"):
@@ -789,6 +803,14 @@ def setup_package(pkg, dirty, context: Context = Context.BUILD):
     return env_base
 
 
+def _extract_dtags_arg(env_by_name: Dict[str, ModificationList], *, var_name: str) -> str:
+    try:
+        enable_new_dtags = env_by_name[var_name][0].value  # type: ignore[union-attr]
+    except (KeyError, IndexError, AttributeError):
+        enable_new_dtags = ""
+    return enable_new_dtags
+
+
 class EnvironmentVisitor:
     def __init__(self, *roots: spack.spec.Spec, context: Context):
         # For the roots (well, marked specs) we follow different edges
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/compiler-wrapper/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/compiler-wrapper/package.py
index cf924bda6ae..59ca1c111bd 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/compiler-wrapper/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/compiler-wrapper/package.py
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 from llnl.util import lang
 
 import spack.compilers.libraries
-import spack.config
 import spack.package_base
 from spack.package import *
 
@@ -213,13 +212,8 @@ def setup_dependent_build_environment(self, env, dependent_spec):
             implicit_rpaths = lang.dedupe(implicit_rpaths)
             env.set("SPACK_COMPILER_IMPLICIT_RPATHS", ":".join(implicit_rpaths))
 
-        # Check whether we want to force RPATH or RUNPATH
-        if spack.config.CONFIG.get("config:shared_linking:type") == "rpath":
-            env.set("SPACK_DTAGS_TO_STRIP", self.enable_new_dtags)
-            env.set("SPACK_DTAGS_TO_ADD", self.disable_new_dtags)
-        else:
-            env.set("SPACK_DTAGS_TO_STRIP", self.disable_new_dtags)
-            env.set("SPACK_DTAGS_TO_ADD", self.enable_new_dtags)
+        env.set("SPACK_ENABLE_NEW_DTAGS", self.enable_new_dtags)
+        env.set("SPACK_DISABLE_NEW_DTAGS", self.disable_new_dtags)
 
         for item in env_paths:
             env.prepend_path("SPACK_ENV_PATH", item)