diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/package.py b/lib/spack/spack/package.py
index f949f2ef57..27b7b8aef5 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/package.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/package.py
@@ -764,7 +764,7 @@ def install(self, spec, prefix):
 
 
     def do_uninstall(self):
-        if not os.path.exists(self.prefix):
+        if not self.installed:
             tty.die(self.name + " is not installed.")
 
         if not self.ignore_dependencies: