diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dealii/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dealii/package.py
index edc73b6cfc3..4a841b5aaec 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dealii/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/dealii/package.py
@@ -396,7 +396,8 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             ])
             if '+cuda' in spec:
                 options.extend([
-                    self.define('DEAL_II_MPI_WITH_CUDA_SUPPORT', True),
+                    self.define('DEAL_II_MPI_WITH_CUDA_SUPPORT',
+                                spec['mpi'].satisfies('+cuda')),
                     self.define('CUDA_HOST_COMPILER', spec['mpi'].mpicxx)
                 ])