diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/solver/asp.py b/lib/spack/spack/solver/asp.py
index 7023d954e3d..49487df2086 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/solver/asp.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/solver/asp.py
@@ -4507,36 +4507,30 @@ def __init__(self):
         self.selector = ReusableSpecsSelector(configuration=spack.config.CONFIG)
 
     @staticmethod
-    def _check_input_and_extract_concrete_specs(specs):
-        reusable = []
+    def _check_input_and_extract_concrete_specs(
+        specs: List[spack.spec.Spec],
+    ) -> List[spack.spec.Spec]:
+        reusable: List[spack.spec.Spec] = []
+        analyzer = create_graph_analyzer()
         for root in specs:
             for s in root.traverse():
-                candidates = s.edges_to_dependencies(depflag=dt.BUILD)
-                if candidates:
-                    non_virtuals, virtuals, _ = create_graph_analyzer().possible_dependencies(
-                        s, transitive=False, allowed_deps=dt.LINK | dt.RUN | dt.BUILD
-                    )
-                    possible_direct_deps = set(non_virtuals) | virtuals
-                    not_possible = set(
-                        [
-                            x.spec.name
-                            for x in candidates
-                            if x.direct and x.spec.name not in possible_direct_deps
-                        ]
-                    )
-                    if not_possible:
-                        start_str = f"'{s}' in '{root}'"
-                        if s == root:
-                            start_str = f"'{root}'"
-                        raise UnsatisfiableSpecError(
-                            f"{start_str} cannot have a dependency on {', '.join(not_possible)}, "
-                            f"according to its recipe"
-                        )
-
                 if s.concrete:
                     reusable.append(s)
-                elif spack.repo.PATH.is_virtual(s.name):
-                    continue
+                else:
+                    if spack.repo.PATH.is_virtual(s.name):
+                        continue
+                    # Error if direct dependencies cannot be satisfied
+                    deps = {edge.spec.name for edge in s.edges_to_dependencies() if edge.direct}
+                    if deps:
+                        graph = analyzer.possible_dependencies(
+                            s, allowed_deps=dt.ALL, transitive=False
+                        )
+                        deps.difference_update(graph.real_pkgs, graph.virtuals)
+                        if deps:
+                            start_str = f"'{root}'" if s == root else f"'{s}' in '{root}'"
+                            raise UnsatisfiableSpecError(
+                                f"{start_str} cannot depend on {', '.join(deps)}"
+                            )
 
                 try:
                     spack.repo.PATH.get_pkg_class(s.fullname)
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/concretization/core.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/concretization/core.py
index 232ad9c3e90..76c13fb1d60 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/concretization/core.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/concretization/core.py
@@ -2199,7 +2199,7 @@ def test_unsolved_specs_raises_error(self, monkeypatch, mock_packages):
             # A package does not exist
             ("pkg-a ^foo", "since 'foo' does not exist"),
             # Request a compiler for a package that doesn't need it
-            ("pkg-c %gcc", "according to its recipe"),
+            ("pkg-c %gcc", "cannot depend on gcc"),
         ],
     )
     def test_errors_on_statically_checked_preconditions(self, spec_str, expected_match):