diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/repository.py b/lib/spack/spack/repository.py
index eada10f7cb..d751a98b35 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/repository.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/repository.py
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ def converter(self, spec_like, *args, **kwargs):
 class SpackNamespace(ModuleType):
     """ Allow lazy loading of modules."""
     def __init__(self, namespace):
-        super(ModuleType, self).__init__(self, namespace)
+        super(SpackNamespace, self).__init__(namespace)
         self.__file__ = "(spack namespace)"
         self.__path__ = []
         self.__name__ = namespace