diff --git a/core/package.mk b/core/package.mk
index 337d3d0..46bf614 100644
--- a/core/package.mk
+++ b/core/package.mk
@@ -5,23 +5,31 @@
 
 include $(BUILD_SYSTEM)/multilib.mk
 
-ifndef my_module_multilib
-# packages default to building for either architecture,
-# the first if its supported, otherwise the second.
-my_module_multilib := both
-endif
-
 LOCAL_NO_2ND_ARCH_MODULE_SUFFIX := true
 
-# check if first arch is supported
+# if TARGET_PREFER_32_BIT is set, try to build 32-bit first
+ifdef TARGET_2ND_ARCH
+ifeq ($(TARGET_PREFER_32_BIT),true)
+LOCAL_2ND_ARCH_VAR_PREFIX := $(TARGET_2ND_ARCH_VAR_PREFIX)
+else
 LOCAL_2ND_ARCH_VAR_PREFIX :=
+endif
+endif
+
+# check if preferred arch is supported
 include $(BUILD_SYSTEM)/module_arch_supported.mk
 ifeq ($(my_module_arch_supported),true)
 # first arch is supported
 include $(BUILD_SYSTEM)/package_internal.mk
 else ifneq (,$(TARGET_2ND_ARCH))
-# check if secondary arch is supported
+# check if the non-preferred arch is the primary or secondary
+ifeq ($(TARGET_PREFER_32_BIT),true)
+LOCAL_2ND_ARCH_VAR_PREFIX :=
+else
 LOCAL_2ND_ARCH_VAR_PREFIX := $(TARGET_2ND_ARCH_VAR_PREFIX)
+endif
+
+# check if non-preferred arch is supported
 include $(BUILD_SYSTEM)/module_arch_supported.mk
 ifeq ($(my_module_arch_supported),true)
 # secondary arch is supported