diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/python/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/python/package.py
index d4fdb6279b..48d3cae903 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/python/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/python/package.py
@@ -791,7 +791,7 @@ def configure_args(self):
 
         if "+dbm" in spec:
             # Default order is ndbm:gdbm:bdb
-            config_args.append("--with-dbmliborder=gdbm:bdb:ndbm")
+            config_args.append("--with-dbmliborder=gdbm")
         else:
             config_args.append("--with-dbmliborder=")