diff --git a/build-aux/build.sh.in b/build-aux/build.sh.in
index 148386ac..305668a0 100644
--- a/build-aux/build.sh.in
+++ b/build-aux/build.sh.in
@@ -64,6 +64,12 @@ if test $mes_libc = mes; then
 "
 fi
 
+if test $mes_cpu = arm; then
+    CFLAGS="$CFLAGS
+-marm
+"
+fi
+
 CPPFLAGS="
 -D HAVE_CONFIG_H=1
 -I ../include
diff --git a/build-aux/check.sh.in b/build-aux/check.sh.in
index c01c92f2..bd9c694e 100644
--- a/build-aux/check.sh.in
+++ b/build-aux/check.sh.in
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ if $courageous; then
 fi
 
 CFLAGS=
+if test $mes_cpu = arm; then
+    CFLAGS="-marm"
+fi
 if test $mes_libc = mes; then
     CFLAGS="${CFLAGS}
 -static