diff --git a/tools/scripts/Makefile.arch b/tools/scripts/Makefile.arch
index 0c6c7f456887..a57a9b752b6c 100644
--- a/tools/scripts/Makefile.arch
+++ b/tools/scripts/Makefile.arch
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ HOSTARCH := $(shell uname -m | sed -e s/i.86/x86/ -e s/x86_64/x86/ \
                                   -e s/sh[234].*/sh/ -e s/aarch64.*/arm64/ \
                                   -e s/riscv.*/riscv/)
 
-ifndef ARCH
-ARCH := $(HOSTARCH)
+ifeq ($(strip $(ARCH)),)
+override ARCH := $(HOSTARCH)
 endif
 
 SRCARCH := $(ARCH)