diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/platforms/bgq.py b/lib/spack/spack/platforms/bgq.py
index b550f1d5cb..e0eb76f336 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/platforms/bgq.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/platforms/bgq.py
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ class Bgq(Platform):
 
     def __init__(self):
         super(Bgq, self).__init__('bgq')
-        self.add_target(self.front_end, Target(self.front_end, 'PATH'))
-        self.add_target(self.back_end, Target(self.back_end, 'PATH'))
+        self.add_target(self.front_end, Target(self.front_end))
+        self.add_target(self.back_end, Target(self.back_end,))
 
     @classmethod
     def detect(self):
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/platforms/cray_xc.py b/lib/spack/spack/platforms/cray_xc.py
index b71481e46e..4843a47c62 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/platforms/cray_xc.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/platforms/cray_xc.py
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@ def __init__(self):
 
         # Could switch to use modules and fe targets for front end
         # Currently using compilers by path for front end.
-        self.add_target('sandybridge', Target('sandybridge', 'PATH'))
+        self.add_target('sandybridge', Target('sandybridge'))
         self.add_target('ivybridge', 
-                        Target('ivybridge', 'MODULES', 'craype-ivybridge'))
+                        Target('ivybridge', 'craype-ivybridge'))
         self.add_target('haswell', 
-                        Target('haswell', 'MODULES', 'craype-haswell'))         
+                        Target('haswell','craype-haswell'))         
 
         self.add_operating_system('SuSE', LinuxDistro())
         self.add_operating_system('CNL', Cnl())
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/platforms/darwin.py b/lib/spack/spack/platforms/darwin.py
index c48f7d17d2..4c3d38851f 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/platforms/darwin.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/platforms/darwin.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ class Darwin(Platform):
 
     def __init__(self):
         super(Darwin, self).__init__('darwin')
-        self.add_target(self.default, Target(self.default, 'PATH'))
+        self.add_target(self.default, Target(self.default))
         mac_os = MacOsx()
         self.default_os = mac_os.name
         self.add_operating_system(mac_os.name, mac_os)
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/platforms/linux.py b/lib/spack/spack/platforms/linux.py
index d9e33511a1..3243a1dcdf 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/platforms/linux.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/platforms/linux.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ class Linux(Platform):
 
     def __init__(self):
         super(Linux, self).__init__('linux')
-        self.add_target(self.default, Target(self.default, 'PATH'))
+        self.add_target(self.default, Target(self.default))
         linux_dist = LinuxDistro()
         self.default_os = linux_dist.name
         self.add_operating_system(linux_dist.name, linux_dist)