diff --git a/etc/spack/defaults/darwin/packages.yaml b/etc/spack/defaults/darwin/packages.yaml
index cc797c848d9..1150f6bab72 100644
--- a/etc/spack/defaults/darwin/packages.yaml
+++ b/etc/spack/defaults/darwin/packages.yaml
@@ -18,3 +18,10 @@ packages:
     compiler: [clang, gcc, intel]
     providers:
       elf: [libelf]
+      unwind: [apple-libunwind]
+  apple-libunwind:
+    paths:
+    # Apple bundles libunwind version 35.3 with macOS 10.9 and later,
+    # although the version number used here isn't critical
+      apple-libunwind@35.3: /usr
+    buildable: False