diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/spec.py b/lib/spack/spack/spec.py
index c61d87d4d19..3798a7b1487 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/spec.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/spec.py
@@ -3403,6 +3403,19 @@ def satisfies(self, other: Union[str, "Spec"], deps: bool = True) -> bool:
             if rhs_edge.spec.virtual:
                 rhs_edge.update_virtuals(virtuals=(rhs_edge.spec.name,))
 
+            if rhs_edge.direct:
+                # Note: this relies on abstract specs from string not being deeper than 2 levels
+                # e.g. in foo %fee ^bar %baz we cannot go deeper than "baz" and e.g. specify its
+                # dependencies too.
+                current_node = self if rhs_edge.parent.name is None else self[rhs_edge.parent.name]
+                candidates = current_node.dependencies(
+                    name=rhs_edge.spec.name,
+                    deptype=rhs_edge.depflag,
+                    virtuals=rhs_edge.virtuals or None,
+                )
+                if not candidates or not any(x.satisfies(rhs_edge.spec) for x in candidates):
+                    return False
+
             if not rhs_edge.virtuals:
                 continue