diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/mpich/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/mpich/package.py
index b20dc8dd60..2d7955e08d 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/mpich/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/mpich/package.py
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ def install(self, spec, prefix):
         if not self.compiler.fc:
             config_args.append("--disable-fc")
 
+        if not self.compiler.fc and not self.compiler.f77:
+            config_args.append("--disable-fortran")
+
         configure(*config_args)
         make()
         make("install")