diff --git a/lib/spack/docs/configuration.rst b/lib/spack/docs/configuration.rst
index f4d3a656531e5222b8a90c9ebe7137b8578a1387..14b0dbdfeadadeffa2aa27c2c78520662688e2d8 100644
--- a/lib/spack/docs/configuration.rst
+++ b/lib/spack/docs/configuration.rst
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ pick up dependencies from ``/usr`` than the intended Spack version.
 
 In order to avoid this problem, it is advisable to specify a fake path
 in ``packages.yaml``, thereby preventing Spack from adding the real
-path to compiler command lines.  This will work becuase compilers
+path to compiler command lines.  This will work because compilers
 normally search standard system paths, even if they are not on the
 command line.  For example: