diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/util/compression.py b/lib/spack/spack/util/compression.py
index ca98160bdd..2b8b05eb28 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/util/compression.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/util/compression.py
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ def allowed_archive(path):
 
 def decompressor_for(path):
     """Get the appropriate decompressor for a path."""
+    if path.endswith(".zip"):
+        unzip = which('unzip', required=True)
+        return unzip
     tar = which('tar', required=True)
     tar.add_default_arg('-xf')
     return tar