diff --git a/build.py b/build.py
index cb9f51393d46f09187a19ae86277b6433105b0b8..b121cad667a6ed3c6be4947660016567259c6842 100755
--- a/build.py
+++ b/build.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ vendor repository as well.
 import argparse
 import multiprocessing
 import os
+import platform
 import shutil
 import six
 import subprocess
@@ -802,6 +803,11 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     # Make sure we get absolute path + expanded path for bootstrap directory
     args.bootstrap_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(args.bootstrap_dir))
 
+    # Possible values for machine() come from 'uname -m'
+    # Since this script only runs on Linux, x86_64 machines must have this value
+    if platform.machine() != 'x86_64':
+        raise Exception("Only x86_64 machines are currently supported by this build script.")
+
     if args.run_bootstrap:
         bootstrap = Bootstrap(args.bootstrap_dir, os.path.dirname(__file__))
         bootstrap.bootstrap()