diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/architectures/linux.py b/lib/spack/spack/architectures/linux.py
index d7d9a994faa..6c454f7a40e 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/architectures/linux.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/architectures/linux.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ class Linux(Architecture):
 
     def __init__(self):
         super(Linux, self).__init__('linux')
-        self.add_target('linux', Target('linux'))
+        self.add_target(self.default, Target(self.default))
 
     @classmethod
     def detect(self):