diff --git a/containers/eic/Dockerfile b/containers/eic/Dockerfile
index 5be9e16a..68392c8d 100644
--- a/containers/eic/Dockerfile
+++ b/containers/eic/Dockerfile
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ ENV GIT_TERMINAL_PROMPT=0
 # Concretization (default environment)
 RUN <<EOF
 set -e
+spack env create ${ENV}
 spack env activate --without-view --dir ${SPACK_ENV}
 spack external find --not-buildable --scope env:${SPACK_ENV} --path /usr/local/cuda/bin cuda
 spack external find --scope env:${SPACK_ENV} llvm