diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/buildcache.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/buildcache.py
index e82cd0b5641..b66d5a56992 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/buildcache.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/buildcache.py
@@ -478,11 +478,12 @@ def save_specfile_fn(args):
     if args.root_specfile:
         with open(args.root_specfile) as fd:
             root_spec_as_json = fd.read()
+        spec_format = 'yaml' if args.root_specfile.endswith('yaml') else 'json'
     else:
         root_spec = Spec(args.root_spec)
         root_spec.concretize()
         root_spec_as_json = root_spec.to_json(hash=ht.dag_hash)
-    spec_format = 'yaml' if args.root_specfile.endswith('yaml') else 'json'
+        spec_format = 'json'
     save_dependency_specfiles(
         root_spec_as_json, args.specfile_dir, args.specs.split(), spec_format)