diff --git a/repos/spack_repo/builtin/packages/mfem/package.py b/repos/spack_repo/builtin/packages/mfem/package.py
index e0e7d762753..6e2bced3dd0 100644
--- a/repos/spack_repo/builtin/packages/mfem/package.py
+++ b/repos/spack_repo/builtin/packages/mfem/package.py
@@ -882,7 +882,7 @@ def find_optional_library(name, prefix):
             if "^netlib-scalapack" in strumpack:
                 scalapack = strumpack["scalapack"]
                 sp_opt += ["-I%s" % scalapack.prefix.include]
-                sp_lib += [ld_flags_from_dirs([scalapack.prefix.lib], ["scalapack"])]
+                sp_lib += [ld_flags_from_library_list(scalapack.libs)]
             elif "^scalapack" in strumpack:
                 scalapack = strumpack["scalapack"]
                 sp_opt += [scalapack.headers.cpp_flags]