diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/environment/environment.py b/lib/spack/spack/environment/environment.py
index 7366468f7a8..1c16c708b3b 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/environment/environment.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/environment/environment.py
@@ -1612,9 +1612,10 @@ def install_specs(self, specs=None, **install_args):
         # ensure specs already installed are marked explicit
         all_specs = specs or [cs for _, cs in self.concretized_specs()]
         specs_installed = [s for s in all_specs if s.installed]
-        with spack.store.db.write_transaction():  # do all in one transaction
-            for spec in specs_installed:
-                spack.store.db.update_explicit(spec, True)
+        if specs_installed:
+            with spack.store.db.write_transaction():  # do all in one transaction
+                for spec in specs_installed:
+                    spack.store.db.update_explicit(spec, True)
 
         if not specs_to_install:
             tty.msg('All of the packages are already installed')