diff --git a/rules.mk b/rules.mk
index cd5446acef..28d28b10c2 100644
--- a/rules.mk
+++ b/rules.mk
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ $(strip $(subst ",,$(1)))
 endef
 #"))
 
-ARCH:=$(call qstrip,$(CONFIG_ARCH))
+ARCH:=$(call qstrip,$(shell echo $(CONFIG_ARCH) | sed -e 's/i[3-9]86/i386/'))
 BOARD:=$(call qstrip,$(CONFIG_TARGET_BOARD))
 TARGET_OPTIMIZATION:=$(call qstrip,$(CONFIG_TARGET_OPTIMIZATION))
 BUILD_SUFFIX:=$(call qstrip,$(CONFIG_BUILD_SUFFIX))