diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/package.py b/lib/spack/spack/package.py
index b0d84863de..5d922f6e58 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/package.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/package.py
@@ -594,7 +594,7 @@ def compiler(self):
         if not self.spec.concrete:
             raise ValueError("Can only get a compiler for a concrete package.")
         return spack.compilers.compiler_for_spec(self.spec.compiler, 
-                self.spec.architecture.target)
+                self.spec.architecture.platform_os)
 
 
     def url_version(self, version):