diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 4c13037..5a593cd 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ ubuntu-dev-tools (0.92) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
   [ Emmet Hikory ]
   * mk-sbuild-lv: support foreign armel schroots
   * mk-sbuild-lv: use --arch=foo rather than --arch foo for debootstrap
+  * pbuilder-dist: Allow architecture-switching to armel on i386/amd64
   * debian/control: add qemu-arm-static to Recommends:
 
   [ Michael Bienia ]
diff --git a/pbuilder-dist b/pbuilder-dist
index 30db2bf..a7a8bca 100755
--- a/pbuilder-dist
+++ b/pbuilder-dist
@@ -314,6 +314,8 @@ def main():
 	if requested_arch:
 		if requested_arch in ('i386', 'amd64') and app.system_architecture == 'amd64':
 			app.build_architecture = requested_arch
+		else if requested_arch == 'armel' and app.system_architecture in ('i386', 'amd64'):
+			app.build_architecture = requested_arch
 		else:
 			print 'Error: Architecture switching is not supported on your system; wrong filename.'
 			sys.exit(1)