diff --git a/easybuild/easyblocks/r/r.py b/easybuild/easyblocks/r/r.py
index c616e5b97ad..0371868f3c6 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyblocks/r/r.py
+++ b/easybuild/easyblocks/r/r.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def configure_step(self):
         # define $BLAS_LIBS to build R correctly against BLAS/LAPACK library
         # $LAPACK_LIBS should *not* be specified since that may lead to using generic LAPACK
         # see https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-easyconfigs/issues/1435
-        env.setvar('BLAS_LIBS', os.getenv('LIBBLAS_MT'))
+        env.setvar('BLAS_LIBS', os.getenv('LIBBLAS'))
         self.cfg.update('configopts', "--with-blas --with-lapack")
 
         # make sure correct config script is used for Tcl/Tk