diff --git a/meta/classes-global/base.bbclass b/meta/classes-global/base.bbclass
index f074eee6..60b15b6f 100644
--- a/meta/classes-global/base.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes-global/base.bbclass
@@ -60,7 +60,8 @@ def get_deb_host_arch():
     ).decode('utf-8').strip()
     return host_arch
 # immediately evaluate to avoid costly process call
-HOST_ARCH := "${@get_deb_host_arch()}"
+DETECTED_HOST_ARCH := "${@get_deb_host_arch()}"
+HOST_ARCH ??= "${DETECTED_HOST_ARCH}"
 HOST_DISTRO ??= "${DISTRO}"
 
 # Inject the PREFERRED_PROVIDERs for multiarch variants. This corresponds to