diff --git a/archiso/initcpio/hooks/archiso b/archiso/initcpio/hooks/archiso
index 26bdedc2547fcf4627a14131fe6e1aecb105a5bb..4c50566c49c1f3f627d418071fb1d8d83754b932 100644
--- a/archiso/initcpio/hooks/archiso
+++ b/archiso/initcpio/hooks/archiso
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ _verify_checksum() {
 }
 
 run_hook() {
-    arch="$(uname -m)"
+    [[ -z "${arch}" ]] && arch="$(uname -m)"
     [[ -z "${cowspace_size}" ]] && cowspace_size="75%"
     [[ -z "${copytoram_size}" ]] && copytoram_size="75%"
     [[ -z "${archisobasedir}" ]] && archisobasedir="arch"
diff --git a/docs/README.bootparams b/docs/README.bootparams
index caee0c2e5bdaec117e7fb491098b394848a51dc9..08198cbd0ceeed4b01f9c37eac289c7160457953 100644
--- a/docs/README.bootparams
+++ b/docs/README.bootparams
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ INDEX
                     Default: "75%"
 * dm_snap_prefix=   Set a prefix for device-mapper snapshot node names.
                     Default: "arch"
+* arch=             Force an architecture type (i686 | x86_64).
+                    Do not set it for normal operations.
+                    Default: (architecture of running kernel)
 
 
 ** hooks/archiso_pxe_common