diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 724686c1..6241ee15 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ assembles it into an image. Pipelines are defined as JSON files like this one:
       "name": "org.osbuild.dnf",
       "options": {
         "releasever": "30",
+        "basearch": "x86_64",
         "repos": {
           "fedora": {
             "name": "Fedora",
diff --git a/samples/base-from-yum.json b/samples/base-from-yum.json
index 43dda7c6..74696fe2 100644
--- a/samples/base-from-yum.json
+++ b/samples/base-from-yum.json
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
         "name": "org.osbuild.yum",
         "options": {
           "releasever": "27",
+          "basearch": "x86_64",
           "repos": {
             "fedora": {
               "name": "Fedora",
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@
       "name": "org.osbuild.dnf",
       "options": {
         "releasever": "30",
+        "basearch": "x86_64",
         "repos": {
           "fedora": {
             "name": "Fedora",
diff --git a/samples/base-qcow2.json b/samples/base-qcow2.json
index 6f79ae76..0b3f2cce 100644
--- a/samples/base-qcow2.json
+++ b/samples/base-qcow2.json
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
       "name": "org.osbuild.dnf",
       "options": {
         "releasever": "30",
+        "basearch": "x86_64",
         "install_weak_deps": true,
         "repos": {
           "fedora": {
diff --git a/samples/base.json b/samples/base.json
index b9190fcb..b76809ce 100644
--- a/samples/base.json
+++ b/samples/base.json
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
       "name": "org.osbuild.dnf",
       "options": {
         "releasever": "30",
+        "basearch": "x86_64",
         "repos": {
           "fedora": {
             "name": "Fedora",
diff --git a/samples/build-from-yum.json b/samples/build-from-yum.json
index 29a07403..1294f89f 100644
--- a/samples/build-from-yum.json
+++ b/samples/build-from-yum.json
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
       "name": "org.osbuild.yum",
       "options": {
         "releasever": "27",
+        "basearch": "x86_64",
         "repos": {
           "fedora": {
             "name": "Fedora",
diff --git a/stages/org.osbuild.dnf b/stages/org.osbuild.dnf
index a186e753..b76152a1 100755
--- a/stages/org.osbuild.dnf
+++ b/stages/org.osbuild.dnf
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ def main(tree, options):
     repos = options["repos"]
     packages = options["packages"]
     releasever = options["releasever"]
+    basearch = options["basearch"]
     operation = options.get("operation", "install")
     weak_deps = options.get("install_weak_deps", True)
 
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ def main(tree, options):
     cmd = [
         "dnf", "-yv",
         "--installroot", tree,
+        "--forcearch", basearch,
         "--setopt", "reposdir=",
         "--setopt", f"install_weak_deps={weak_deps}",
         "--releasever", releasever,
diff --git a/test/pipelines/f30-boot.json b/test/pipelines/f30-boot.json
index 5c9ebbd9..759cb461 100644
--- a/test/pipelines/f30-boot.json
+++ b/test/pipelines/f30-boot.json
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
         "name": "org.osbuild.dnf",
         "options": {
           "releasever": "30",
+          "basearch": "x86_64",
           "install_weak_deps": false,
           "repos": {
             "fedora": {
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@
       "name": "org.osbuild.dnf",
       "options": {
         "releasever": "30",
+        "basearch": "x86_64",
         "install_weak_deps": true,
         "repos": {
           "fedora": {
diff --git a/test/pipelines/firewall.json b/test/pipelines/firewall.json
index e71de3ae..d4f943b4 100644
--- a/test/pipelines/firewall.json
+++ b/test/pipelines/firewall.json
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
       "name": "org.osbuild.dnf",
       "options": {
         "releasever": "30",
+        "basearch": "x86_64",
         "repos": {
           "fedora": {
             "name": "Fedora",
diff --git a/test/pipelines/locale.json b/test/pipelines/locale.json
index ced208f3..f778f108 100644
--- a/test/pipelines/locale.json
+++ b/test/pipelines/locale.json
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
       "name": "org.osbuild.dnf",
       "options": {
         "releasever": "30",
+        "basearch": "x86_64",
         "repos": {
           "fedora": {
             "name": "Fedora",
diff --git a/test/pipelines/timezone.json b/test/pipelines/timezone.json
index c9157f2b..38eabeda 100644
--- a/test/pipelines/timezone.json
+++ b/test/pipelines/timezone.json
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
       "name": "org.osbuild.dnf",
       "options": {
         "releasever": "30",
+        "basearch": "x86_64",
         "repos": {
           "fedora": {
             "name": "Fedora",