diff --git a/lib/external/fexec.c b/lib/external/fexec.c
index 5ef2a662..8fe84661 100644
--- a/lib/external/fexec.c
+++ b/lib/external/fexec.c
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ static int
 pfcexec(struct xbps_handle *xhp, const char *file, const char **argv)
 {
 	pid_t child;
+	const char *tarch;
 	int status;
 
 	child = vfork();
@@ -51,8 +52,9 @@ pfcexec(struct xbps_handle *xhp, const char *file, const char **argv)
 		 * If rootdir != / and uid==0 and bin/sh exists,
 		 * change root directory and exec command.
 		 */
+		tarch = getenv("XBPS_TARGET_ARCH");
 		if (strcmp(xhp->rootdir, "/")) {
-			if (geteuid() == 0 && access("bin/sh", X_OK) == 0) {
+			if (!tarch && geteuid() == 0 && access("bin/sh", X_OK) == 0) {
 				if (chroot(xhp->rootdir) == 0) {
 					if (chdir("/") == -1)
 						_exit(129);