diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-astropy/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-astropy/package.py
index 4519310a3da..0692ce57c3a 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-astropy/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-astropy/package.py
@@ -81,9 +81,6 @@ def install_options(self, spec, prefix):
             '--use-system-expat'
         ]
 
-        if spec.satisfies('^python@3:'):
-            args.extend(['-j', str(make_jobs)])
-
         return args
 
     @run_after('install')