diff --git a/utils/daos_build.py b/utils/daos_build.py
index d4b5f08cc84..2916bbe9308 100644
--- a/utils/daos_build.py
+++ b/utils/daos_build.py
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ def _find_mpicc(env):
     if mpicc:
         env.Replace(CC="mpicc")
         env.Replace(LINK="mpicc")
+        env.AppendUnique(CPPDEFINES=["-DDAOS_MPI_PATH=\"%s\"" % mpicc])
         clear_icc_env(env)
         load_mpi_path(env)
         return True