diff --git a/var/spack/packages/hdf5/package.py b/var/spack/packages/hdf5/package.py
index 15e0ef9338..e1cd8fdabb 100644
--- a/var/spack/packages/hdf5/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/packages/hdf5/package.py
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ def install(self, spec, prefix):
             "--with-zlib=%s" % spec['zlib'].prefix,
             "--enable-parallel",
             "--enable-shared",
-            "CC=%s" % spec['mpich'].prefix.bin + "/mpicc",
-            "CXX=%s" % spec['mpich'].prefix.bin + "/mpic++")
+            "CC=%s" % spec['mpi'].prefix.bin + "/mpicc",
+            "CXX=%s" % spec['mpi'].prefix.bin + "/mpic++")
 
         make()
         make("install")