diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/stage.py b/lib/spack/spack/stage.py
index 9e2c8865e406bd..379104a51f53e2 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/stage.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/stage.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ def get_tmp_root():
 
         path = _first_accessible_path(candidates)
         if not path:
-            raise StageError("No accessible stage paths in %s", candidates)
+            raise StageError("No accessible stage paths in:", candidates)
 
         # Return None to indicate we're using a local staging area.
         if path == canonicalize_path(spack.paths.stage_path):
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/stage.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/stage.py
index 6b5e698dc38102..74f3c9b4fa68c4 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/stage.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/stage.py
@@ -177,6 +177,16 @@ def get_stage_path(stage, stage_name):
         return stage.path
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def no_path_for_stage(monkeypatch):
+    """Ensure there is no accessible path for staging."""
+    def _no_stage_path(paths):
+        return None
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(spack.stage, '_first_accessible_path', _no_stage_path)
+    yield
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def no_tmp_root_stage(monkeypatch):
     """
@@ -191,7 +201,7 @@ def no_tmp_root_stage(monkeypatch):
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def non_user_path_for_stage():
+def non_user_path_for_stage(config):
     """
     Use a non-user path for staging.
 
@@ -206,7 +216,7 @@ def non_user_path_for_stage():
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def stage_path_for_stage():
+def stage_path_for_stage(config):
     """
     Use the basic stage_path for staging.
 
@@ -221,7 +231,7 @@ def stage_path_for_stage():
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def tmp_path_for_stage(tmpdir):
+def tmp_path_for_stage(tmpdir, config):
     """
     Use a built-in, temporary, test directory for staging.
 
@@ -248,7 +258,7 @@ def tmp_root_stage(monkeypatch):
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def tmpdir_for_stage(mock_stage_archive):
+def tmpdir_for_stage(config, mock_stage_archive):
     """
     Use the mock_stage_archive's temporary directory for staging.
 
@@ -266,7 +276,7 @@ def tmpdir_for_stage(mock_stage_archive):
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def tmp_build_stage_dir(tmpdir):
+def tmp_build_stage_dir(tmpdir, config):
     """Establish the temporary build_stage for the mock archive."""
     test_tmp_path = tmpdir.join('tmp')
 
@@ -671,6 +681,13 @@ def test_get_tmp_root_no_use(self, no_tmp_root_stage):
         """Ensure not using tmp root results in no path."""
         assert spack.stage.get_tmp_root() is None
 
+    def test_get_tmp_root_no_stage_path(self, tmp_root_stage,
+                                        no_path_for_stage):
+        """Ensure using tmp root with no stage path raises StageError."""
+        with pytest.raises(spack.stage.StageError,
+                           match="No accessible stage paths in"):
+            spack.stage.get_tmp_root()
+
     def test_get_tmp_root_non_user_path(self, tmp_root_stage,
                                         non_user_path_for_stage):
         """Ensure build_stage of tmp root with non-user path includes user."""