diff --git a/xbps-src b/xbps-src
index a7246f0fdb..b581daae14 100755
--- a/xbps-src
+++ b/xbps-src
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ if [ -f $XBPS_MASTERDIR/.xbps_chroot_init ]; then
 fi
 
 if [ -z "$XBPS_REINIT" -a -s $XBPS_MASTERDIR/.xbps_chroot_init ]; then
-    export XBPS_ARCH=$(cat $XBPS_MASTERDIR/.xbps_chroot_init)
+    export XBPS_ARCH=${XBPS_ARCH:-$(cat $XBPS_MASTERDIR/.xbps_chroot_init)}
     if [[ $XBPS_MACHINE == x86_64* ]] && [[ $XBPS_ARCH == i686* ]]; then
         # reconfigure pkgs via linux32
         linux32 xbps-reconfigure -r ${XBPS_MASTERDIR} -a &>/dev/null