diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
index aa4dfa4776efe5b865a34211a6535e93c3afaceb..f88e0911ed8fad4c8defb0b1ec38ca26fb59c837 100755
--- a/build.sh
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -183,7 +183,13 @@ if [ -z "$(reprepro listfilter reform "\$Source (== box64)")" ]; then
 		git checkout upstream
 		git checkout master
 		pristine-tar checkout ../box64_0.1.8.orig.tar.xz
-		sbuild --host="$HOST_ARCH" --no-arch-all --arch-any $COMMON_SBUILD_OPTS --extra-repository="$SRC_LIST_PATCHED"
+		ret=0
+		sbuild --host="$HOST_ARCH" --arch-all --arch-any $COMMON_SBUILD_OPTS --extra-repository="$SRC_LIST_PATCHED" || ret=$?
+		if [ "$ret" -ne 0 ]; then
+			# cross building failed -- try building
+			# "natively" with qemu-user
+			sbuild --build="$HOST_ARCH" --host="$HOST_ARCH" --arch-all --arch-any $COMMON_SBUILD_OPTS --extra-repository="$SRC_LIST_PATCHED"
+		fi
 		reprepro include "$OURSUITE" ../box64_0.1.8-1_arm64.changes
 		cd ..
 	)