diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 6036de83a4abf7516e65c36d71c47ebd93779977..67468e9918ce2306b3b0c6917f9e994d8023eccd 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1388,8 +1388,8 @@ probe_target_compiler() {
   done
 
   try=cross
-  # For softmmu/roms we might be able to use the host compiler
-  if [ "${1%softmmu}" != "$1" ]; then
+  # For softmmu/roms also look for a bi-endian or multilib-enabled host compiler
+  if [ "${1%softmmu}" != "$1" ] || test "$target_arch" = "$cpu"; then
       case "$target_arch:$cpu" in
         aarch64_be:aarch64 | \
         armeb:arm | \