diff --git a/base/gcc/gcc.conf b/base/gcc/gcc.conf
index bf2a071f4..da4509295 100644
--- a/base/gcc/gcc.conf
+++ b/base/gcc/gcc.conf
@@ -124,6 +124,12 @@ if atstage toolchain; then
 	export LDFLAGS="-Wl,-rpath,${root}${libdir}"
 fi
 
+if atstage cross; then
+	# for gcc versions 4.3 and upwards we have to explicitely specifiy the
+	# target architecture at cross-compiling stage
+	var_append confopt ' ' '--target=$arch_target'
+fi
+
 if ! atstage native; then
 	var_append confopt " " "--disable-libmudflap"
 else