diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pip/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pip/package.py
index f32199db310..ff244d5e4b9 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pip/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/py-pip/package.py
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ def install(self, spec, prefix):
         python(*args)
 
     def setup_dependent_package(self, module, dependent_spec):
-        pip = self.spec["python"].command
+        pip = dependent_spec["python"].command
         pip.add_default_arg("-m")
         pip.add_default_arg("pip")
         setattr(module, "pip", pip)