diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/common/arguments.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/common/arguments.py
index 6fc3b5d3cf6..a8bdcf692f9 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/common/arguments.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/common/arguments.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ def _specs(self, **kwargs):
 
         # return everything for an empty query.
         if not qspecs:
-            return spack.store.db.query()
+            return spack.store.db.query(**kwargs)
 
         # Return only matching stuff otherwise.
         specs = set()