diff --git a/include/toplevel.mk b/include/toplevel.mk
index 4c76fb8b01..c25b8a51e5 100644
--- a/include/toplevel.mk
+++ b/include/toplevel.mk
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ unexport P4PORT P4USER P4CONFIG P4CLIENT
 # prevent user defaults for quilt from interfering
 unexport QUILT_PATCHES QUILT_PATCH_OPTS
 
-unexport C_INCLUDE_PATH CROSS_COMPILE
+unexport C_INCLUDE_PATH CROSS_COMPILE ARCH
 
 # prevent distro default LPATH from interfering
 unexport LPATH