diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/expat/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/expat/package.py
index f5d94758128..36f77f42864 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/expat/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/expat/package.py
@@ -39,7 +39,9 @@ def url_for_version(self, version):
 
     def configure_args(self):
         spec = self.spec
-        args = ['--without-docbook']
+        args = ['--without-docbook',
+                '--enable-static',
+                ]
         if '+libbsd' in spec and '@2.2.1:' in spec:
             args.append('--with-libbsd')
         return args