diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/arborx/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/arborx/package.py
index 20dcbe17f19..3099e5f11cc 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/arborx/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/arborx/package.py
@@ -110,22 +110,15 @@ class Arborx(CMakePackage, CudaPackage, ROCmPackage):
     conflicts("~serial", when="+trilinos")
 
     def cmake_args(self):
-        spec = self.spec
-
-        if "+trilinos" in spec:
-            kokkos_spec = spec["trilinos"]
-        else:
-            kokkos_spec = spec["kokkos"]
-
+        kokkos_pkg = self["trilinos"] if self.spec.satisfies("+trilinos") else self["kokkos"]
         options = [
-            f"-DKokkos_ROOT={kokkos_spec.prefix}",
+            self.define("Kokkos_ROOT", kokkos_pkg.prefix),
             self.define_from_variant("ARBORX_ENABLE_MPI", "mpi"),
         ]
-
-        if spec.satisfies("+cuda"):
-            options.append(f"-DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER={kokkos_spec.kokkos_cxx}")
-        if spec.satisfies("+rocm"):
-            options.append("-DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=%s" % spec["hip"].hipcc)
+        if self.spec.satisfies("+cuda"):
+            options.append(self.define("CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER", kokkos_pkg.kokkos_cxx))
+        if self.spec.satisfies("+rocm"):
+            options.append(self.define("CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER", self.spec["hip"].hipcc))
 
         return options
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/compadre/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/compadre/package.py
index bb9776f991a..943b369ae79 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/compadre/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/compadre/package.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             [
                 "-DKokkosCore_PREFIX={0}".format(kokkos.prefix),
                 "-DKokkosKernels_PREFIX={0}".format(kokkos_kernels.prefix),
-                "-DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER:STRING={0}".format(spec["kokkos"].kokkos_cxx),
+                "-DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER:STRING={0}".format(self["kokkos"].kokkos_cxx),
                 # Compadre_USE_PYTHON is OFF by default
                 "-DCompadre_USE_PYTHON=OFF",
             ]
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dealii/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dealii/package.py
index 6fb69dddb49..c75ccfe3de0 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dealii/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dealii/package.py
@@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ def cmake_args(self):
                 )
             # Make sure we use the same compiler that Trilinos uses
             if spec.satisfies("+trilinos"):
-                options.extend([self.define("CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER", spec["trilinos"].kokkos_cxx)])
+                options.extend([self.define("CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER", self["trilinos"].kokkos_cxx)])
 
         # Complex support
         options.append(self.define_from_variant("DEAL_II_WITH_COMPLEX_VALUES", "complex"))
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/exawind/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/exawind/package.py
index 89b5aae76fa..42ada8b5431 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/exawind/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/exawind/package.py
@@ -121,9 +121,9 @@ def setup_build_environment(self, env):
             # Manually turn off device self.defines to solve Kokkos issues in Nalu-Wind headers
             env.append_flags("CXXFLAGS", "-U__HIP_DEVICE_COMPILE__ -DDESUL_HIP_RDC")
         if self.spec.satisfies("+cuda"):
-            env.set("OMPI_CXX", self.spec["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
-            env.set("MPICH_CXX", self.spec["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
-            env.set("MPICXX_CXX", self.spec["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
+            env.set("OMPI_CXX", self["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
+            env.set("MPICH_CXX", self["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
+            env.set("MPICXX_CXX", self["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
         if self.spec.satisfies("+rocm"):
             env.set("OMPI_CXX", self.spec["hip"].hipcc)
             env.set("MPICH_CXX", self.spec["hip"].hipcc)
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/flecsi/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/flecsi/package.py
index a2de79a6743..c37fd487005 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/flecsi/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/flecsi/package.py
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ def cmake_args(self):
                     # CMake pulled in via find_package(Legion) won't work without this
                     options.append(self.define("HIP_PATH", "{0}/hip".format(spec["hip"].prefix)))
             elif self.spec.satisfies("^kokkos"):
-                options.append(self.define("CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER", self.spec["kokkos"].kokkos_cxx))
+                options.append(self.define("CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER", self["kokkos"].kokkos_cxx))
         else:
             # kept for supporing version prior to 2.2
             options = [
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/kokkos-kernels/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/kokkos-kernels/package.py
index 98848493ef7..1200d29dcd9 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/kokkos-kernels/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/kokkos-kernels/package.py
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             options.append("-DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=%s" % spec["hip"].hipcc)
         else:
             # Compiler weirdness due to nvcc_wrapper
-            options.append("-DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=%s" % spec["kokkos"].kokkos_cxx)
+            options.append("-DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=%s" % self["kokkos"].kokkos_cxx)
 
         if self.run_tests:
             options.append("-DKokkosKernels_ENABLE_TESTS=ON")
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/kokkos-nvcc-wrapper/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/kokkos-nvcc-wrapper/package.py
index 42497a7f2ef..75a1adbb792 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/kokkos-nvcc-wrapper/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/kokkos-nvcc-wrapper/package.py
@@ -69,6 +69,6 @@ def setup_dependent_build_environment(self, env, dependent_spec):
         env.set("OMPI_CXX", wrapper)
         env.set("MPICXX_CXX", wrapper)  # HPE MPT
 
-    def setup_dependent_package(self, module, dependent_spec):
-        wrapper = join_path(self.prefix.bin, "nvcc_wrapper")
-        self.spec.kokkos_cxx = wrapper
+    @property
+    def kokkos_cxx(self) -> str:
+        return join_path(self.prefix.bin, "nvcc_wrapper")
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/kokkos/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/kokkos/package.py
index a9a717684ad..ece0d78667f 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/kokkos/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/kokkos/package.py
@@ -408,11 +408,12 @@ def append_args(self, cmake_prefix, cmake_options, spack_options):
             if option:
                 spack_options.append(option)
 
-    def setup_dependent_package(self, module, dependent_spec):
-        try:
-            self.spec.kokkos_cxx = self.spec["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx
-        except Exception:
-            self.spec.kokkos_cxx = spack_cxx
+    @property
+    def kokkos_cxx(self) -> str:
+        if self.spec.satisfies("+wrapper"):
+            return self["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx
+        # Assumes build-time globals have been set already
+        return spack_cxx
 
     def cmake_args(self):
         spec = self.spec
@@ -474,9 +475,7 @@ def cmake_args(self):
                 options.append(self.define(tpl + "_DIR", spec[tpl].prefix))
 
         if self.spec.satisfies("+wrapper"):
-            options.append(
-                self.define("CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER", self.spec["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
-            )
+            options.append(self.define("CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER", self.kokkos_cxx))
         elif "+rocm" in self.spec:
             if "+cmake_lang" in self.spec:
                 options.append(
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/legion/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/legion/package.py
index dbd636ff768..ff3227918f9 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/legion/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/legion/package.py
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         if spec.satisfies("+kokkos"):
             # default is off.
             options.append("-DLegion_USE_Kokkos=ON")
-            os.environ["KOKKOS_CXX_COMPILER"] = spec["kokkos"].kokkos_cxx
+            os.environ["KOKKOS_CXX_COMPILER"] = self["kokkos"].kokkos_cxx
             if spec.satisfies("+cuda+cuda_unsupported_compiler ^kokkos%clang +cuda"):
                 # Keep CMake CUDA compiler detection happy
                 options.append(
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nalu-wind/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nalu-wind/package.py
index c8093159135..b9a4a04750e 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nalu-wind/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nalu-wind/package.py
@@ -140,9 +140,9 @@ def setup_build_environment(self, env):
         spec = self.spec
         env.append_flags("CXXFLAGS", "-DUSE_STK_SIMD_NONE")
         if spec.satisfies("+cuda"):
-            env.set("OMPI_CXX", self.spec["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
-            env.set("MPICH_CXX", self.spec["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
-            env.set("MPICXX_CXX", self.spec["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
+            env.set("OMPI_CXX", self["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
+            env.set("MPICH_CXX", self["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
+            env.set("MPICXX_CXX", self["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
         if spec.satisfies("+rocm"):
             env.append_flags("CXXFLAGS", "-fgpu-rdc")
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nlcglib/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nlcglib/package.py
index d5c17f3ac59..55ac169201a 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nlcglib/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/nlcglib/package.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         if "+cuda%gcc" in self.spec:
             options += [
                 self.define(
-                    "CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER", "{0}".format(self.spec["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
+                    "CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER", "{0}".format(self["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
                 )
             ]
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pycompadre/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pycompadre/package.py
index 339852892b6..da1760d87d9 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pycompadre/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pycompadre/package.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def set_cmake_from_variants(self):
         with open("cmake_opts.txt", "w") as f:
             f.write("KokkosCore_PREFIX:PATH=%s\n" % spec["kokkos"].prefix)
             f.write("KokkosKernels_PREFIX:PATH=%s\n" % spec["kokkos-kernels"].prefix)
-            f.write("CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER:STRING={0}\n".format(spec["kokkos"].kokkos_cxx))
+            f.write("CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER:STRING={0}\n".format(self["kokkos"].kokkos_cxx))
             if spec.variants["debug"].value == "0":
                 f.write(
                     "CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS:STRING=%s\n"
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/singularity-eos/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/singularity-eos/package.py
index 62d0bfd6648..d300575d39b 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/singularity-eos/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/singularity-eos/package.py
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         ]
 
         if "+kokkos+cuda" in self.spec:
-            args.append(self.define("CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER", self.spec["kokkos"].kokkos_cxx))
+            args.append(self.define("CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER", self["kokkos"].kokkos_cxx))
 
         return args
 
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/spiner/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/spiner/package.py
index dcc5722c535..be219868cfa 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/spiner/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/spiner/package.py
@@ -98,5 +98,5 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             args.append(self.define("CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER", self.spec["hip"].hipcc))
             args.append(self.define("CMAKE_C_COMPILER", self.spec["hip"].hipcc))
         if self.spec.satisfies("^kokkos+cuda"):
-            args.append(self.define("CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER", self.spec["kokkos"].kokkos_cxx))
+            args.append(self.define("CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER", self["kokkos"].kokkos_cxx))
         return args
diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/trilinos/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/trilinos/package.py
index 89224744bd0..d346b5e0a10 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/trilinos/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/trilinos/package.py
@@ -589,21 +589,22 @@ def setup_dependent_run_environment(self, env, dependent_spec):
             # in case the dependent app also run a CUDA backend via Trilinos
             env.set("CUDA_LAUNCH_BLOCKING", "1")
 
-    def setup_dependent_package(self, module, dependent_spec):
-        if "+wrapper" in self.spec:
-            self.spec.kokkos_cxx = self.spec["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx
-        else:
-            self.spec.kokkos_cxx = spack_cxx
+    @property
+    def kokkos_cxx(self) -> str:
+        if self.spec.satisfies("+wrapper"):
+            return self["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx
+        # Assumes build-time globals have been set already
+        return spack_cxx
 
     def setup_build_environment(self, env):
         spec = self.spec
         if "+cuda" in spec and "+wrapper" in spec:
             if "+mpi" in spec:
-                env.set("OMPI_CXX", spec["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
-                env.set("MPICH_CXX", spec["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
-                env.set("MPICXX_CXX", spec["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
+                env.set("OMPI_CXX", self["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
+                env.set("MPICH_CXX", self["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
+                env.set("MPICXX_CXX", self["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
             else:
-                env.set("CXX", spec["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
+                env.set("CXX", self["kokkos-nvcc-wrapper"].kokkos_cxx)
 
         if "+rocm" in spec:
             if "+mpi" in spec: