diff --git a/target/linux/olpc/Makefile b/target/linux/olpc/Makefile
index 7c1d65ec96..2f756290cf 100644
--- a/target/linux/olpc/Makefile
+++ b/target/linux/olpc/Makefile
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #
 include $(TOPDIR)/rules.mk
 
-ARCH=i386
+ARCH:=i386
 BOARD:=olpc
 BOARDNAME:=OLPC XO-1
 FEATURES:=squashfs ext2
diff --git a/target/linux/x86/Makefile b/target/linux/x86/Makefile
index 164e27904a..9a1685d853 100644
--- a/target/linux/x86/Makefile
+++ b/target/linux/x86/Makefile
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #
 include $(TOPDIR)/rules.mk
 
-ARCH=i386
+ARCH:=i386
 BOARD:=x86
 BOARDNAME:=x86
 FEATURES:=squashfs jffs2 ext2 vdi vmdk pcmcia tgz