diff --git a/remote_access.sh b/remote_access.sh
index 251621f..4e9f548 100644
--- a/remote_access.sh
+++ b/remote_access.sh
@@ -177,17 +177,6 @@
   info "Target reports board is ${FLAGS_board}"
 }
 
-learn_arch() {
-  [ -n "${FLAGS_arch}" ] && return
-  remote_sh uname -m
-  FLAGS_arch=$(echo "${REMOTE_OUT}" | sed -e s/armv7l/arm/ -e s/i686/x86/ )
-  if [ -z "${FLAGS_arch}" ]; then
-    error "Arch required"
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  info "Target reports arch is ${FLAGS_arch}"
-}
-
 # Discover partition numbers from the target.
 learn_partition_layout() {
   source <(remote_sh_raw cat /usr/sbin/write_gpt.sh)
diff --git a/update_kernel.sh b/update_kernel.sh
index 4944535..98165ef 100755
--- a/update_kernel.sh
+++ b/update_kernel.sh
@@ -139,6 +139,17 @@
   fi
 }
 
+learn_arch() {
+  [ -n "${FLAGS_arch}" ] && return
+  FLAGS_arch=$(sed -n -E 's/^ *--arch="(.*)"/\1/p' \
+         "${SRC_ROOT}/build/images/${FLAGS_board}/latest/boot.desc")
+  if [ -z "${FLAGS_arch}" ]; then
+    error "Arch required"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+  info "Target reports arch is ${FLAGS_arch}"
+}
+
 make_kernelimage() {
   local bootloader_path
   local kernel_image
@@ -271,10 +282,10 @@
 
   remote_access_init
 
-  learn_arch
-
   learn_board
 
+  learn_arch
+
   learn_device
 
   learn_partition_layout