diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/package.py b/lib/spack/spack/package.py
index 8df658e6603..48074aaebbd 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/package.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/package.py
@@ -494,7 +494,7 @@ def installed_dependents(self):
            on this one."""
         dependents = []
         for spec in spack.db.installed_package_specs():
-            if self.spec != spec and self.spec in spec:
+            if self.name != spec.name and self.spec in spec:
                 dependents.append(spec)
         return dependents