1 files changed, 12 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/repository.py b/lib/spack/spack/repository.py
index d77700c01f..1536ecb0e6 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/repository.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/repository.py
@@ -337,8 +337,16 @@ class RepoPath(object):
         return self.repo_for_pkg(pkg_name).filename_for_package_name(pkg_name)
 
     def exists(self, pkg_name):
+        """Whether package with the give name exists in the path's repos.
+
+        Note that virtual packages do not "exist".
+        """
         return any(repo.exists(pkg_name) for repo in self.repos)
 
+    def is_virtual(self, pkg_name):
+        """True if the package with this name is virtual, False otherwise."""
+        return pkg_name in self.provider_index
+
     def __contains__(self, pkg_name):
         return self.exists(pkg_name)
 
@@ -772,6 +780,10 @@ class Repo(object):
         filename = self.filename_for_package_name(pkg_name)
         return os.path.exists(filename)
 
+    def is_virtual(self, pkg_name):
+        """True if the package with this name is virtual, False otherwise."""
+        return self.provider_index.contains(pkg_name)
+
     def _get_pkg_module(self, pkg_name):
         """Create a module for a particular package.