diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/architectures/bgq.py b/lib/spack/spack/architectures/bgq.py
index d3d4446e09..85487626f1 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/architectures/bgq.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/architectures/bgq.py
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ class Bgq(Architecture):
 
     def __init__(self):
         super(Bgq, self).__init__('cray')
-        self.add_target('power7', Target('power7'))
-        self.add_target('powerpc', Target('powerpc'))
+        self.add_target(self.front_end, Target(self.front_end))
+        self.add_target(self.back_end, Target(self.back_end))
 
     @classmethod
     def detect(self):