$ spack -d setup pism@dev
...
==> Generating spconfig.py [pism@dev%[email protected]+cxx11~docs~extra+icebin~parallel-hdf5~parallel-netcdf3~parallel-netcdf4+proj~python+shared arch=linux-centos7-x86_64-74lsgxk]
==> '/home2/rpfische/spack4/opt/spack/linux-centos7-x86_64/gcc-4.9.3/python-3.5.2-fsiwqdnbv37srf4h67uuhxrffixlkwbn/bin/python3' '-c' 'import sys; print(sys.prefix)'
==> READ LOCK: /home2/rpfische/spack4/opt/spack/.spack-db/prefix_lock[9190599643867472633:1] [Acquiring]
==> READ LOCK: /home2/rpfische/spack4/opt/spack/.spack-db/prefix_lock[9190599643867472633:1] [Released]
==> WRITE LOCK: /home2/rpfische/spack4/opt/spack/.spack-db/lock[0:0] [Released]
==> Error: Install prefix exists but contains no spec.yaml:
  /home2/rpfische/spack4/opt/spack/linux-centos7-x86_64/gcc-4.9.3/pism-dev-74lsgxkldlc7fqpg4slrhiawnh2tca24
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home2/rpfische/spack4/bin/spack", line 180, in main
    return_val = command(parser, args)
  File "/home2/rpfische/spack4/lib/spack/spack/cmd/setup.py", line 191, in setup
    install.install(parser, inst_args)
  File "/home2/rpfische/spack4/lib/spack/spack/cmd/install.py", line 342, in install
    package.do_install(**kwargs)
  File "/home2/rpfische/spack4/lib/spack/spack/package.py", line 1158, in do_install
    if layout.check_installed(self.spec):
  File "/home2/rpfische/spack4/lib/spack/spack/directory_layout.py", line 265, in check_installed
    "  " + path)
spack.directory_layout.InconsistentInstallDirectoryError: Install prefix exists but contains no spec.yaml:
      /home2/rpfische/spack4/opt/spack/linux-centos7-x86_64/gcc-4.9.3/pism-dev-74lsgxkldlc7fqpg4slrhiawnh2tca24