diff --git a/var/spack/packages/openssl/package.py b/var/spack/packages/openssl/package.py
index a51bace6665..e1039fcbe12 100644
--- a/var/spack/packages/openssl/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/packages/openssl/package.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def install(self, spec, prefix):
                  "no-krb5",
                  "shared",
                  "darwin64-x86_64-cc")
-            perl('-pi', '-e', 's/-arch x86_64//g', 'Makefile')
+            filter_file(r'-arch x86_64', '', 'Makefile')
         else:
             config = Executable("./config")
             config("--prefix=%s" % prefix,