diff --git a/bin/machinetype b/bin/machinetype
index 438e4a7..102139a 100755
--- a/bin/machinetype
+++ b/bin/machinetype
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 #									#
 #########################################################################
 
-os=`./config.guess`
-
+os=${LDEARCH:-`./config.guess`}
 # o/s switch block
 case "$os" in
         sparc-*)	      echo sparc ;;
@@ -22,6 +21,5 @@ case "$os" in
         powerpc-*)	      echo ppc ;;
 esac
 
-
 ### Don't leave the variables set.
 unset os