diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openssh/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openssh/package.py
index 671af44eae8..c7496d93e53 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openssh/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/openssh/package.py
@@ -67,6 +67,10 @@ def configure_args(self):
         # least newer versions want to create the directory during the
         # install step and fail if they cannot do so.
         args = ['--with-privsep-path={0}'.format(self.prefix.var.empty)]
+
+        # Somehow creating pie executables fails with nvhpc, not with gcc.
+        if '%nvhpc' in self.spec:
+            args.append('--without-pie')
         return args
 
     def install(self, spec, prefix):