diff --git a/core/executable.mk b/core/executable.mk
index 1e8d73a..b67ac36 100644
--- a/core/executable.mk
+++ b/core/executable.mk
@@ -8,19 +8,6 @@
 
 include $(BUILD_SYSTEM)/multilib.mk
 
-ifeq ($(TARGET_PREFER_32_BIT),true)
-ifeq (,$(filter $(my_module_multilib),first both)
-# if TARGET_PREFER_32_BIT is not explicitly set to "first" or "both"
-# build only for secondary
-my_module_multilib := 32
-endif
-endif
-
-ifndef my_module_multilib
-# executables default to building for the first architecture
-my_module_multilib := first
-endif
-
 ifeq ($(my_module_multilib),both)
 ifeq ($(LOCAL_MODULE_PATH_32)$(LOCAL_MODULE_STEM_32),)
 $(error $(LOCAL_PATH): LOCAL_MODULE_STEM_32 or LOCAL_MODULE_PATH_32 is required for LOCAL_MULTILIB := both for module $(LOCAL_MODULE))
@@ -32,26 +19,42 @@
 LOCAL_NO_2ND_ARCH_MODULE_SUFFIX := true
 endif
 
-my_skip_secondary_arch :=
+# 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 first arch is supported
+my_skip_non_preferred_arch :=
+
+# check if preferred arch is supported
 include $(BUILD_SYSTEM)/module_arch_supported.mk
 ifeq ($(my_module_arch_supported),true)
 # first arch is supported
 include $(BUILD_SYSTEM)/executable_internal.mk
 ifneq ($(my_module_multilib),both)
-my_skip_secondary_arch := true
+my_skip_non_preferred_arch := true
 endif
 endif
 
-# check if first arch was not supported or asked to build both
-ifndef my_skip_secondary_arch
+# check if preferred arch was not supported or asked to build both
+ifndef my_skip_non_preferred_arch
 ifdef 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
+# non-preferred arch is supported
 OVERRIDE_BUILT_MODULE_PATH :=
 LOCAL_BUILT_MODULE :=
 LOCAL_INSTALLED_MODULE :=
@@ -62,7 +65,7 @@
 include $(BUILD_SYSTEM)/executable_internal.mk
 endif
 endif # TARGET_2ND_ARCH
-endif # !my_skip_secondary_arch || LOCAL_MULTILIB
+endif # !my_skip_non_preferred_arch || LOCAL_MULTILIB
 LOCAL_2ND_ARCH_VAR_PREFIX :=
 LOCAL_NO_2ND_ARCH_MODULE_SUFFIX :=
 
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