diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/lammps/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/lammps/package.py
index 5bf2986858c..b578016311a 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/lammps/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/lammps/package.py
@@ -182,3 +182,7 @@ def cmake_args(self):
             args.append('-DEXTERNAL_KOKKOS=ON')
 
         return args
+
+    def setup_run_environment(self, env):
+        env.set('LAMMPS_POTENTIALS',
+                self.prefix.share.lammps.potentials)