diff --git a/abuild.in b/abuild.in
index 41822af..01b4b62 100644
--- a/abuild.in
+++ b/abuild.in
@@ -690,6 +690,7 @@ pre_split() {
 	# the subpackages should not inherit those form main package
 	provides=""
 	install_if=""
+	apkbuild_arch="$arch"
 }
 
 prepare_subpackages() {
@@ -796,6 +797,11 @@ prepare_metafiles() {
 #		parch="noarch"
 #	fi
 
+	# save arch incase subpackages set it different than main pkg
+	if [ "${apkbuild_arch:-$arch}" != "$arch" ]; then
+		echo "$arch" > "$controldir"/.arch
+	fi
+
 	echo "# Generated by $(basename $0) $program_version" >"$pkginfo"
 	if [ -n "$FAKEROOTKEY" ]; then
 		echo "# using $($FAKEROOT -v)" >> "$pkginfo"
@@ -1115,7 +1121,7 @@ scan_shared_objects() {
 	local name="$1" controldir="$2" datadir="$3"
 	local opt= i=
 
-	if [ "$arch" = "noarch" ]; then
+	if [ "$arch" = "noarch" ] && ! [ -e "$controldir"/.arch ]; then
 		return 0
 	fi