diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/caliper/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/caliper/package.py
index 19fa6cfde0..30eb7f70b3 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/caliper/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/caliper/package.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 import os
 import sys
 
+from llnl.util import tty
+
 from spack import *
 
 
@@ -154,16 +156,21 @@ def run_cxx_example_test(self):
 
         test_dir = join_path(self.test_suite.current_test_cache_dir, 'examples', 'apps')
 
-        if not os.path.exists(test_dir):
-            print('Skipping caliper test')
+        if not os.path.isfile(join_path(test_dir, 'cxx-example.cpp')):
+            tty.msg('Skipping caliper test: file does not exist')
             return
 
         exe = 'cxx-example'
 
+        if os.path.exists(self.prefix.lib):
+            lib_dir = self.prefix.lib
+        else:
+            lib_dir = self.prefix.lib64
+
         self.run_test(exe='gcc',
                       options=['{0}'.format(join_path(test_dir, 'cxx-example.cpp')),
-                               '-L{0}'.format(join_path(self.prefix, 'lib64')),
-                               '-I{0}'.format(join_path(self.prefix, 'include')),
+                               '-L{0}'.format(lib_dir),
+                               '-I{0}'.format(self.prefix.include),
                                '-std=c++11', '-lcaliper', '-lstdc++', '-o', exe],
                       purpose='test: compile {0} example'.format(exe),
                       work_dir=test_dir)