diff --git a/packages/cable/package.py b/packages/cable/package.py
index 44204e5..3fc596c 100644
--- a/packages/cable/package.py
+++ b/packages/cable/package.py
@@ -41,6 +41,5 @@ def url_for_version(self, version):
 
     def cmake_args(self):
         args = []
-        if self.spec.satisfies("+mpi"):
-            args.append(self.define_from_variant("CABLE_MPI", "mpi"))
+        args.append(self.define_from_variant("CABLE_MPI", "mpi"))
         return args