diff --git a/lib/spack/env/cc b/lib/spack/env/cc
index bc4a20dc3e..76f6095004 100755
--- a/lib/spack/env/cc
+++ b/lib/spack/env/cc
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ parameters=(
     SPACK_F77_RPATH_ARG
     SPACK_FC_RPATH_ARG
     SPACK_SHORT_SPEC
+    SPACK_SYSTEM_DIRS
 )
 
 # The compiler input variables are checked for sanity later:
@@ -228,7 +229,92 @@ fi
 
 # Save original command for debug logging
 input_command="$@"
-args=("$@")
+args=()
+
+#
+# Parse the command line args, trying hard to keep
+# non-rpath linker arguments in the proper order w.r.t. other command
+# line arguments.  This is important for things like groups.
+#
+# -l arguments are treated as 'other_args' to ensure that they stay in
+# any groups they are a part of. Dependency library -l statements are
+# categorized as 'libs'
+#
+# The various categories will be recombined with compiler flags into 
+# args variable later.
+#
+includes=()
+libdirs=()
+libs=()
+rpaths=()
+other_args=()
+
+while [ -n "$1" ]; do
+    case "$1" in
+        -I*)
+            arg="${1#-I}"
+            if [ -z "$arg" ]; then shift; arg="$1"; fi
+            includes+=("$arg")
+            ;;
+        -L*)
+            arg="${1#-L}"
+            if [ -z "$arg" ]; then shift; arg="$1"; fi
+            libdirs+=("$arg")
+            ;;
+        -l*)
+            arg="${1#-l}"
+            if [ -z "$arg" ]; then shift; arg="$1"; fi
+            other_args+=("-l$arg")
+            ;;
+        -Wl,*)
+            arg="${1#-Wl,}"
+            if [ -z "$arg" ]; then shift; arg="$1"; fi
+            if [[ "$arg" = -rpath=* ]]; then
+                rpaths+=("${arg#-rpath=}")
+	    elif [[ "$arg" = -rpath,* ]]; then
+		rpaths+=("${arg#-rpath,}")
+            elif [[ "$arg" = -rpath ]]; then
+                shift; arg="$1"
+                if [[ "$arg" != -Wl,* ]]; then
+                    die "-Wl,-rpath was not followed by -Wl,*"
+                fi
+                rpaths+=("${arg#-Wl,}")
+            else
+                other_args+=("-Wl,$arg")
+            fi
+            ;;
+        -Xlinker,*)
+            arg="${1#-Xlinker,}"
+            if [ -z "$arg" ]; then shift; arg="$1"; fi
+            if [[ "$arg" = -rpath=* ]]; then
+                rpaths+=("${arg#-rpath=}")
+            elif [[ "$arg" = -rpath ]]; then
+                shift; arg="$1"
+                if [[ "$arg" != -Xlinker,* ]]; then
+                    die "-Xlinker,-rpath was not followed by -Xlinker,*"
+                fi
+                rpaths+=("${arg#-Xlinker,}")
+            else
+                other_args+=("-Xlinker,$arg")
+            fi
+            ;;
+        -Xlinker)
+            if [[ "$2" == "-rpath" ]]; then
+		if [[ "$3" != "-Xlinker" ]]; then
+                    die "-Xlinker,-rpath was not followed by -Xlinker,*"
+		fi
+		shift 3;
+		rpaths+=("$1")
+            else
+                other_args+=("$1")
+            fi
+            ;;
+        *)
+            other_args+=("$1")
+            ;;
+    esac
+    shift
+done
 
 # Prepend cppflags, cflags, cxxflags, fcflags, fflags, and ldflags
 
@@ -266,92 +352,93 @@ case "$mode" in cc|ccld)
         ;;
 esac
 
+# Include all -L's and prefix/whatever dirs in rpath
+$add_rpaths && rpaths+=("$SPACK_PREFIX/lib")
+$add_rpaths && rpaths+=("$SPACK_PREFIX/lib64")
+
 # Read spack dependencies from the path environment variable
 IFS=':' read -ra deps <<< "$SPACK_DEPENDENCIES"
 for dep in "${deps[@]}"; do
-    # Prepend include directories
+    # Append include directories
     if [[ -d $dep/include ]]; then
         if [[ $mode == cpp || $mode == cc || $mode == as || $mode == ccld ]]; then
-            args=("-I$dep/include" "${args[@]}")
+            includes=("${includes[@]}" "$dep/include")
         fi
     fi
 
-    # Prepend lib and RPATH directories
+    # Append lib and RPATH directories
     if [[ -d $dep/lib ]]; then
-        if [[ $mode == ccld ]]; then
-            if [[ $SPACK_RPATH_DEPS == *$dep* ]]; then
-                $add_rpaths && args=("$rpath$dep/lib" "${args[@]}")
-            fi
-            if [[ $SPACK_LINK_DEPS == *$dep* ]]; then
-                args=("-L$dep/lib" "${args[@]}")
-            fi
-        elif [[ $mode == ld ]]; then
-            if [[ $SPACK_RPATH_DEPS == *$dep* ]]; then
-                $add_rpaths && args=("-rpath" "$dep/lib" "${args[@]}")
-            fi
-            if [[ $SPACK_LINK_DEPS == *$dep* ]]; then
-                args=("-L$dep/lib" "${args[@]}")
-            fi
+        if [[ $SPACK_RPATH_DEPS == *$dep* ]]; then
+            $add_rpaths && rpaths=("${rpaths[@]}" "$dep/lib")
+        fi
+        if [[ $SPACK_LINK_DEPS == *$dep* ]]; then
+            libdirs=("${libdirs[@]}" "$dep/lib")
         fi
     fi
 
-    # Prepend lib64 and RPATH directories
+    # Append lib64 and RPATH directories
     if [[ -d $dep/lib64 ]]; then
-        if [[ $mode == ccld ]]; then
-            if [[ $SPACK_RPATH_DEPS == *$dep* ]]; then
-                $add_rpaths && args=("$rpath$dep/lib64" "${args[@]}")
-            fi
-            if [[ $SPACK_LINK_DEPS == *$dep* ]]; then
-                args=("-L$dep/lib64" "${args[@]}")
-            fi
-        elif [[ $mode == ld ]]; then
-            if [[ $SPACK_RPATH_DEPS == *$dep* ]]; then
-                $add_rpaths && args=("-rpath" "$dep/lib64" "${args[@]}")
-            fi
-            if [[ $SPACK_LINK_DEPS == *$dep* ]]; then
-                args=("-L$dep/lib64" "${args[@]}")
-            fi
+        if [[ $SPACK_RPATH_DEPS == *$dep* ]]; then
+            $add_rpaths && rpaths+=("$dep/lib64")
+        fi
+        if [[ $SPACK_LINK_DEPS == *$dep* ]]; then
+            libdirs+=("$dep/lib64")
         fi
     fi
 done
 
-# Include all -L's and prefix/whatever dirs in rpath
-if [[ $mode == ccld ]]; then
-    $add_rpaths && args=("$rpath$SPACK_PREFIX/lib64" "${args[@]}")
-    $add_rpaths && args=("$rpath$SPACK_PREFIX/lib"   "${args[@]}")
-elif [[ $mode == ld ]]; then
-    $add_rpaths && args=("-rpath" "$SPACK_PREFIX/lib64" "${args[@]}")
-    $add_rpaths && args=("-rpath" "$SPACK_PREFIX/lib"   "${args[@]}")
-fi
-
 # Set extra RPATHs
 IFS=':' read -ra extra_rpaths <<< "$SPACK_COMPILER_EXTRA_RPATHS"
-for extra_rpath in "${extra_rpaths[@]}"; do
-    if [[ $mode == ccld ]]; then
-        $add_rpaths && args=("$rpath$extra_rpath" "${args[@]}")
-        args=("-L$extra_rpath" "${args[@]}")
-    elif [[ $mode == ld ]]; then
-        $add_rpaths && args=("-rpath" "$extra_rpath" "${args[@]}")
-        args=("-L$extra_rpath" "${args[@]}")
-    fi
+for extra_rpath in "${extra_rpaths[@]}"; do 
+    $add_rpaths && rpaths+=("$extra_rpath")
+    libdirs+=("$extra_rpath")
 done
 
 # Add SPACK_LDLIBS to args
 case "$mode" in
     ld|ccld)
-        args=("${args[@]}" ${SPACK_LDLIBS[@]}) ;;
+	for lib in ${SPACK_LDLIBS[@]}; do
+	    libs+=("${lib#-l}")
+	done
 esac
 
-#ccache only supports C languages, so filtering out Fortran
-if [[ ( ${lang_flags} = "C" || ${lang_flags} = "CXX" ) && ${SPACK_CCACHE_BINARY} ]]; then
-    full_command=("${SPACK_CCACHE_BINARY}" "$command" "${args[@]}")
-    # #3761#issuecomment-294352232
-    # workaround for stage being a temp folder
-    export CCACHE_NOHASHDIR=yes
-else
-   full_command=("$command" "${args[@]}")
+# Filter system locations to the end of each sublist of args
+# (includes, library dirs, rpaths)
+for sd in ${SPACK_SYSTEM_DIRS[@]}; do
+    stripped_includes=`echo $includes | sed "s#\b$sd/\? \b##g"`
+    stripped_libdirs=`echo $libdirs | sed "s#\b$sd/\? \b##g"`
+    stripped_rpaths=`echo $rpaths | sed "s#\b$sd/\? \b##g"`
+    if [[ "$includes" != "$stripped_includes" ]]; then
+	$includes="$stripped_includes $sd"
+    fi
+    if [[ "$libdirs" != "$stripped_libdirs" ]]; then
+	$libdirs="$stripped_libdirs $sd"
+    fi
+    if [[ "$rpaths" != "$stripped_rpaths" ]]; then
+	$rpaths="$stripped_rpaths $sd"
+    fi
+done
+
+# Put the arguments together into one list
+# Includes come first, then other args, library dirs, and rpaths
+# rpaths get appropriate flag for ld vs ccld mode
+for dir in "${includes[@]}";  do args+=("-I$dir"); done
+args+=("${other_args[@]}")
+for dir in "${libdirs[@]}"; do args+=("-L$dir"); done
+for lib in "${libs[@]}"; do args+=("-l$lib"); done
+if [ "$mode" = ccld ]; then
+    for dir in "${rpaths[@]}"; do
+        args+=("$rpath$dir")
+    done
+elif [ "$mode" = ld ]; then
+    for dir in "${rpaths[@]}"; do
+        args+=("-rpath" "$dir")
+    done
 fi
 
+full_command=("$command")
+full_command+=("${args[@]}")
+
 # In test command mode, write out full command for Spack tests.
 if [[ $SPACK_TEST_COMMAND == dump-args ]]; then
     echo "${full_command[@]}"
@@ -370,4 +457,4 @@ if [[ $SPACK_DEBUG == TRUE ]]; then
     echo "[$mode] ${full_command[@]}" >> "$output_log"
 fi
 
-exec "${full_command[@]}"
+exec "${full_command[@]}" 
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/build_environment.py b/lib/spack/spack/build_environment.py
index e48e570e76..ea18cc87d0 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/build_environment.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/build_environment.py
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@
 from spack.environment import EnvironmentModifications, validate
 from spack.environment import preserve_environment
 from spack.util.environment import env_flag, filter_system_paths, get_path
+from spack.util.environment import system_dirs
 from spack.util.executable import Executable
 from spack.util.module_cmd import load_module, get_path_from_module
 from spack.util.log_parse import parse_log_events, make_log_context
@@ -99,6 +100,7 @@
 SPACK_DEBUG_LOG_ID = 'SPACK_DEBUG_LOG_ID'
 SPACK_DEBUG_LOG_DIR = 'SPACK_DEBUG_LOG_DIR'
 SPACK_CCACHE_BINARY = 'SPACK_CCACHE_BINARY'
+SPACK_SYSTEM_DIRS = 'SPACK_SYSTEM_DIRS'
 
 
 # Platform-specific library suffix.
@@ -202,6 +204,8 @@ def set_compiler_environment_variables(pkg, env):
 
     env.set('SPACK_COMPILER_SPEC', str(pkg.spec.compiler))
 
+    env.set('SPACK_SYSTEM_DIRS', ' '.join(system_dirs))
+
     compiler.setup_custom_environment(pkg, env)
 
     return env
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/build_environment.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/build_environment.py
index 982e7822b3..f48f46cd4c 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/build_environment.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/build_environment.py
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ def build_environment():
     os.environ['SPACK_F77_RPATH_ARG'] = "-Wl,-rpath,"
     os.environ['SPACK_FC_RPATH_ARG']  = "-Wl,-rpath,"
 
+    os.environ['SPACK_SYSTEM_DIRS'] = '/usr/include /usr/lib'
+
     if 'SPACK_DEPENDENCIES' in os.environ:
         del os.environ['SPACK_DEPENDENCIES']
 
@@ -67,7 +69,8 @@ def build_environment():
                  'SPACK_ENV_PATH', 'SPACK_DEBUG_LOG_DIR',
                  'SPACK_COMPILER_SPEC', 'SPACK_SHORT_SPEC',
                  'SPACK_CC_RPATH_ARG', 'SPACK_CXX_RPATH_ARG',
-                 'SPACK_F77_RPATH_ARG', 'SPACK_FC_RPATH_ARG'):
+                 'SPACK_F77_RPATH_ARG', 'SPACK_FC_RPATH_ARG',
+                 'SPACK_SYSTEM_DIRS'):
         del os.environ[name]
 
 
@@ -96,8 +99,8 @@ def test_static_to_shared_library(build_environment):
                 shared_lib = '{0}.{1}'.format(
                     os.path.splitext(static_lib)[0], dso_suffix)
 
-            assert output == expected[arch].format(
-                static_lib, shared_lib, os.path.basename(shared_lib))
+            assert set(output.split()) == set(expected[arch].format(
+                static_lib, shared_lib, os.path.basename(shared_lib)).split())
 
 
 @pytest.mark.regression('8345')
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/cc.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/cc.py
index adc5bfd71b..12f8acc1a6 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/cc.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/cc.py
@@ -166,50 +166,71 @@ def test_flags(self):
 
         # Test ldflags added properly in ld mode
         self.check_ld('dump-args', test_command,
-                      "ld " +
-                      '-rpath ' + self.prefix + '/lib ' +
-                      '-rpath ' + self.prefix + '/lib64 ' +
-                      '-L foo ' +
-                      ' '.join(test_command) + ' ' +
-                      '-lfoo')
+                      'ld -L foo ' +
+                      '-I/test/include -I/other/include arg1 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--start-group arg2 arg3 -llib1 -llib2 arg4 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--end-group ' +
+                      '-llib3 -llib4 arg5 arg6 ' +
+                      '-L/test/lib -L/other/lib ' +
+                      '-lfoo ' +
+                      '-rpath /first/rpath -rpath /second/rpath ' +
+                      '-rpath /third/rpath -rpath /fourth/rpath ' +
+                      '-rpath /spack-test-prefix/lib ' +
+                      '-rpath /spack-test-prefix/lib64')
 
         # Test cppflags added properly in cpp mode
         self.check_cpp('dump-args', test_command,
                        "cpp " +
                        '-g -O1 ' +
-                       ' '.join(test_command))
+                       '-I/test/include -I/other/include arg1 ' +
+                       '-Wl,--start-group arg2 arg3 -llib1 -llib2 arg4 ' +
+                       '-Wl,--end-group ' +
+                       '-llib3 -llib4 arg5 arg6 ' +
+                       '-L/test/lib -L/other/lib')
 
         # Test ldflags, cppflags, and language specific flags are added in
         # proper order
         self.check_cc('dump-args', test_command,
                       self.realcc + ' ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.prefix + '/lib ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.prefix + '/lib64 ' +
-                      '-g -O1 ' +
-                      '-Wall ' +
-                      '-L foo ' +
-                      ' '.join(test_command) + ' ' +
-                      '-lfoo')
+                      '-g -O1 -Wall -L foo ' +
+                      '-I/test/include -I/other/include arg1 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--start-group arg2 arg3 -llib1 -llib2 arg4 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--end-group ' +
+                      '-llib3 -llib4 arg5 arg6 ' +
+                      '-L/test/lib -L/other/lib ' +
+                      '-lfoo ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/first/rpath -Wl,-rpath,/second/rpath ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/third/rpath -Wl,-rpath,/fourth/rpath ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/spack-test-prefix/lib ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/spack-test-prefix/lib64')
 
         self.check_cxx('dump-args', test_command,
                        self.realcc + ' ' +
-                       '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.prefix + '/lib ' +
-                       '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.prefix + '/lib64 ' +
-                       '-g -O1 ' +
-                       '-Werror ' +
-                       '-L foo ' +
-                       ' '.join(test_command) + ' ' +
-                       '-lfoo')
+                       '-g -O1 -Werror -L foo ' +
+                       '-I/test/include -I/other/include arg1 ' +
+                       '-Wl,--start-group arg2 arg3 -llib1 -llib2 arg4 ' +
+                       '-Wl,--end-group ' +
+                       '-llib3 -llib4 arg5 arg6 ' +
+                       '-L/test/lib -L/other/lib ' +
+                       '-lfoo ' +
+                       '-Wl,-rpath,/first/rpath -Wl,-rpath,/second/rpath ' +
+                       '-Wl,-rpath,/third/rpath -Wl,-rpath,/fourth/rpath ' +
+                       '-Wl,-rpath,/spack-test-prefix/lib ' +
+                       '-Wl,-rpath,/spack-test-prefix/lib64')
 
         self.check_fc('dump-args', test_command,
                       self.realcc + ' ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.prefix + '/lib ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.prefix + '/lib64 ' +
-                      '-w ' +
-                      '-g -O1 ' +
-                      '-L foo ' +
-                      ' '.join(test_command) + ' ' +
-                      '-lfoo')
+                      '-w -g -O1 -L foo ' +
+                      '-I/test/include -I/other/include arg1 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--start-group arg2 arg3 -llib1 -llib2 arg4 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--end-group ' +
+                      '-llib3 -llib4 arg5 arg6 ' +
+                      '-L/test/lib -L/other/lib ' +
+                      '-lfoo ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/first/rpath -Wl,-rpath,/second/rpath ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/third/rpath -Wl,-rpath,/fourth/rpath ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/spack-test-prefix/lib ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/spack-test-prefix/lib64')
 
         del os.environ['SPACK_CFLAGS']
         del os.environ['SPACK_CXXFLAGS']
@@ -222,9 +243,15 @@ def test_dep_rpath(self):
         """Ensure RPATHs for root package are added."""
         self.check_cc('dump-args', test_command,
                       self.realcc + ' ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.prefix + '/lib ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.prefix + '/lib64 ' +
-                      ' '.join(test_command))
+                      '-I/test/include -I/other/include arg1 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--start-group arg2 arg3 -llib1 -llib2 arg4 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--end-group ' +
+                      '-llib3 -llib4 arg5 arg6 ' +
+                      '-L/test/lib -L/other/lib ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/first/rpath -Wl,-rpath,/second/rpath ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/third/rpath -Wl,-rpath,/fourth/rpath ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/spack-test-prefix/lib ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/spack-test-prefix/lib64')
 
     def test_dep_include(self):
         """Ensure a single dependency include directory is added."""
@@ -233,10 +260,16 @@ def test_dep_include(self):
         os.environ['SPACK_LINK_DEPS'] = os.environ['SPACK_DEPENDENCIES']
         self.check_cc('dump-args', test_command,
                       self.realcc + ' ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.prefix + '/lib ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.prefix + '/lib64 ' +
-                      '-I' + self.dep4 + '/include ' +
-                      ' '.join(test_command))
+                      '-I/test/include -I/other/include ' +
+                      '-I' + self.dep4 + '/include arg1 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--start-group arg2 arg3 -llib1 -llib2 arg4 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--end-group ' +
+                      '-llib3 -llib4 arg5 arg6 ' +
+                      '-L/test/lib -L/other/lib ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/first/rpath -Wl,-rpath,/second/rpath ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/third/rpath -Wl,-rpath,/fourth/rpath ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/spack-test-prefix/lib ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/spack-test-prefix/lib64')
 
     def test_dep_lib(self):
         """Ensure a single dependency RPATH is added."""
@@ -245,11 +278,17 @@ def test_dep_lib(self):
         os.environ['SPACK_LINK_DEPS'] = os.environ['SPACK_DEPENDENCIES']
         self.check_cc('dump-args', test_command,
                       self.realcc + ' ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.prefix + '/lib ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.prefix + '/lib64 ' +
+                      '-I/test/include -I/other/include arg1 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--start-group arg2 arg3 -llib1 -llib2 arg4 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--end-group ' +
+                      '-llib3 -llib4 arg5 arg6 ' +
+                      '-L/test/lib -L/other/lib ' +
                       '-L' + self.dep2 + '/lib64 ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.dep2 + '/lib64 ' +
-                      ' '.join(test_command))
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/first/rpath -Wl,-rpath,/second/rpath ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/third/rpath -Wl,-rpath,/fourth/rpath ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/spack-test-prefix/lib ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/spack-test-prefix/lib64 ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.dep2 + '/lib64')
 
     def test_dep_lib_no_rpath(self):
         """Ensure a single dependency link flag is added with no dep RPATH."""
@@ -257,10 +296,16 @@ def test_dep_lib_no_rpath(self):
         os.environ['SPACK_LINK_DEPS'] = os.environ['SPACK_DEPENDENCIES']
         self.check_cc('dump-args', test_command,
                       self.realcc + ' ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.prefix + '/lib ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.prefix + '/lib64 ' +
+                      '-I/test/include -I/other/include arg1 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--start-group arg2 arg3 -llib1 -llib2 arg4 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--end-group ' +
+                      '-llib3 -llib4 arg5 arg6 ' +
+                      '-L/test/lib -L/other/lib ' +
                       '-L' + self.dep2 + '/lib64 ' +
-                      ' '.join(test_command))
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/first/rpath -Wl,-rpath,/second/rpath ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/third/rpath -Wl,-rpath,/fourth/rpath ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/spack-test-prefix/lib ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/spack-test-prefix/lib64')
 
     def test_dep_lib_no_lib(self):
         """Ensure a single dependency RPATH is added with no -L."""
@@ -268,10 +313,16 @@ def test_dep_lib_no_lib(self):
         os.environ['SPACK_RPATH_DEPS'] = os.environ['SPACK_DEPENDENCIES']
         self.check_cc('dump-args', test_command,
                       self.realcc + ' ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.prefix + '/lib ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.prefix + '/lib64 ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.dep2 + '/lib64 ' +
-                      ' '.join(test_command))
+                      '-I/test/include -I/other/include arg1 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--start-group arg2 arg3 -llib1 -llib2 arg4 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--end-group ' +
+                      '-llib3 -llib4 arg5 arg6 ' +
+                      '-L/test/lib -L/other/lib ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/first/rpath -Wl,-rpath,/second/rpath ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/third/rpath -Wl,-rpath,/fourth/rpath ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/spack-test-prefix/lib ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/spack-test-prefix/lib64 ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.dep2 + '/lib64')
 
     def test_all_deps(self):
         """Ensure includes and RPATHs for all deps are added. """
@@ -285,23 +336,25 @@ def test_all_deps(self):
         # to.  We could loosen that if it becomes necessary
         self.check_cc('dump-args', test_command,
                       self.realcc + ' ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.prefix + '/lib ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.prefix + '/lib64 ' +
-
-                      '-I' + self.dep4 + '/include ' +
-
-                      '-L' + self.dep3 + '/lib64 ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.dep3 + '/lib64 ' +
-                      '-I' + self.dep3 + '/include ' +
-
-                      '-L' + self.dep2 + '/lib64 ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.dep2 + '/lib64 ' +
-
-                      '-L' + self.dep1 + '/lib ' +
-                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.dep1 + '/lib ' +
+                      '-I/test/include -I/other/include ' +
                       '-I' + self.dep1 + '/include ' +
-
-                      ' '.join(test_command))
+                      '-I' + self.dep3 + '/include ' +
+                      '-I' + self.dep4 + '/include ' +
+                      'arg1 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--start-group arg2 arg3 -llib1 -llib2 arg4 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--end-group ' +
+                      '-llib3 -llib4 arg5 arg6 ' +
+                      '-L/test/lib -L/other/lib ' +
+                      '-L' + self.dep1 + '/lib ' +
+                      '-L' + self.dep2 + '/lib64 ' +
+                      '-L' + self.dep3 + '/lib64 ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/first/rpath -Wl,-rpath,/second/rpath ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/third/rpath -Wl,-rpath,/fourth/rpath ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/spack-test-prefix/lib ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,/spack-test-prefix/lib64 ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.dep1 + '/lib ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.dep2 + '/lib64 ' +
+                      '-Wl,-rpath,' + self.dep3 + '/lib64')
 
     def test_ld_deps(self):
         """Ensure no (extra) -I args or -Wl, are passed in ld mode."""
@@ -312,19 +365,22 @@ def test_ld_deps(self):
 
         self.check_ld('dump-args', test_command,
                       'ld ' +
-                      '-rpath ' + self.prefix + '/lib ' +
-                      '-rpath ' + self.prefix + '/lib64 ' +
-
-                      '-L' + self.dep3 + '/lib64 ' +
-                      '-rpath ' + self.dep3 + '/lib64 ' +
-
-                      '-L' + self.dep2 + '/lib64 ' +
-                      '-rpath ' + self.dep2 + '/lib64 ' +
-
+                      '-I/test/include -I/other/include ' +
+                      'arg1 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--start-group arg2 arg3 -llib1 -llib2 arg4 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--end-group ' +
+                      '-llib3 -llib4 arg5 arg6 ' +
+                      '-L/test/lib -L/other/lib ' +
                       '-L' + self.dep1 + '/lib ' +
+                      '-L' + self.dep2 + '/lib64 ' +
+                      '-L' + self.dep3 + '/lib64 ' +
+                      '-rpath /first/rpath -rpath /second/rpath ' +
+                      '-rpath /third/rpath -rpath /fourth/rpath ' +
+                      '-rpath /spack-test-prefix/lib ' +
+                      '-rpath /spack-test-prefix/lib64 ' +
                       '-rpath ' + self.dep1 + '/lib ' +
-
-                      ' '.join(test_command))
+                      '-rpath ' + self.dep2 + '/lib64 ' +
+                      '-rpath ' + self.dep3 + '/lib64')
 
     def test_ld_deps_no_rpath(self):
         """Ensure SPACK_RPATH_DEPS controls RPATHs for ld."""
@@ -334,14 +390,19 @@ def test_ld_deps_no_rpath(self):
 
         self.check_ld('dump-args', test_command,
                       'ld ' +
-                      '-rpath ' + self.prefix + '/lib ' +
-                      '-rpath ' + self.prefix + '/lib64 ' +
-
-                      '-L' + self.dep3 + '/lib64 ' +
-                      '-L' + self.dep2 + '/lib64 ' +
+                      '-I/test/include -I/other/include ' +
+                      'arg1 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--start-group arg2 arg3 -llib1 -llib2 arg4 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--end-group ' +
+                      '-llib3 -llib4 arg5 arg6 ' +
+                      '-L/test/lib -L/other/lib ' +
                       '-L' + self.dep1 + '/lib ' +
-
-                      ' '.join(test_command))
+                      '-L' + self.dep2 + '/lib64 ' +
+                      '-L' + self.dep3 + '/lib64 ' +
+                      '-rpath /first/rpath -rpath /second/rpath ' +
+                      '-rpath /third/rpath -rpath /fourth/rpath ' +
+                      '-rpath /spack-test-prefix/lib ' +
+                      '-rpath /spack-test-prefix/lib64')
 
     def test_ld_deps_no_link(self):
         """Ensure SPACK_LINK_DEPS controls -L for ld."""
@@ -351,14 +412,19 @@ def test_ld_deps_no_link(self):
 
         self.check_ld('dump-args', test_command,
                       'ld ' +
-                      '-rpath ' + self.prefix + '/lib ' +
-                      '-rpath ' + self.prefix + '/lib64 ' +
-
-                      '-rpath ' + self.dep3 + '/lib64 ' +
-                      '-rpath ' + self.dep2 + '/lib64 ' +
+                      '-I/test/include -I/other/include ' +
+                      'arg1 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--start-group arg2 arg3 -llib1 -llib2 arg4 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--end-group ' +
+                      '-llib3 -llib4 arg5 arg6 ' +
+                      '-L/test/lib -L/other/lib ' +
+                      '-rpath /first/rpath -rpath /second/rpath ' +
+                      '-rpath /third/rpath -rpath /fourth/rpath ' +
+                      '-rpath /spack-test-prefix/lib ' +
+                      '-rpath /spack-test-prefix/lib64 ' +
                       '-rpath ' + self.dep1 + '/lib ' +
-
-                      ' '.join(test_command))
+                      '-rpath ' + self.dep2 + '/lib64 ' +
+                      '-rpath ' + self.dep3 + '/lib64')
 
     def test_ld_deps_reentrant(self):
         """Make sure ld -r is handled correctly on OS's where it doesn't
@@ -371,18 +437,30 @@ def test_ld_deps_reentrant(self):
         reentrant_test_command = ['-r'] + test_command
         self.check_ld('dump-args', reentrant_test_command,
                       'ld ' +
-                      '-rpath ' + self.prefix + '/lib ' +
-                      '-rpath ' + self.prefix + '/lib64 ' +
-
+                      '-I/test/include -I/other/include ' +
+                      '-r arg1 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--start-group arg2 arg3 -llib1 -llib2 arg4 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--end-group ' +
+                      '-llib3 -llib4 arg5 arg6 ' +
+                      '-L/test/lib -L/other/lib ' +
                       '-L' + self.dep1 + '/lib ' +
-                      '-rpath ' + self.dep1 + '/lib ' +
-
-                      '-r ' +
-                      ' '.join(test_command))
+                      '-rpath /first/rpath -rpath /second/rpath ' +
+                      '-rpath /third/rpath -rpath /fourth/rpath ' +
+                      '-rpath /spack-test-prefix/lib ' +
+                      '-rpath /spack-test-prefix/lib64 ' +
+                      '-rpath ' + self.dep1 + '/lib')
 
+        # rpaths from the underlying command will still appear
+        # Spack will not add its own rpaths.
         os.environ['SPACK_SHORT_SPEC'] = "foo@1.2=darwin-x86_64"
         self.check_ld('dump-args', reentrant_test_command,
                       'ld ' +
+                      '-I/test/include -I/other/include ' +
+                      '-r arg1 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--start-group arg2 arg3 -llib1 -llib2 arg4 ' +
+                      '-Wl,--end-group ' +
+                      '-llib3 -llib4 arg5 arg6 ' +
+                      '-L/test/lib -L/other/lib ' +
                       '-L' + self.dep1 + '/lib ' +
-                      '-r ' +
-                      ' '.join(test_command))
+                      '-rpath /first/rpath -rpath /second/rpath ' +
+                      '-rpath /third/rpath -rpath /fourth/rpath')