diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index a44e672be..d37734ac8 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ option(WITH_SECURE_JIT      "Enable secure access to JIT memory" OFF)
 option(WITH_DMI             "Enable DMI/SMBIOS reader" ON)
 
 option(BUILD_STATIC         "Build static binary" OFF)
-option(ARM_TARGET           "Force use specific ARM target 8 or 7" 0)
+option(ARM_V8               "Force ARMv8 (64 bit) architecture, use with caution if automatic detection fails, but you sure it may work" OFF)
+option(ARM_V7               "Force ARMv7 (32 bit) architecture, use with caution if automatic detection fails, but you sure it may work" OFF)
 option(HWLOC_DEBUG          "Enable hwloc debug helpers and log" OFF)
 
 
diff --git a/cmake/cpu.cmake b/cmake/cpu.cmake
index cbcd8b015..cdc35f103 100644
--- a/cmake/cpu.cmake
+++ b/cmake/cpu.cmake
@@ -29,6 +29,12 @@ else()
     set(WITH_VAES OFF)
 endif()
 
+if (ARM_V8)
+    set(ARM_TARGET 8)
+elseif (ARM_V7)
+    set(ARM_TARGET 7)
+endif()
+
 if (NOT ARM_TARGET)
     if (CMAKE_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR MATCHES "^(aarch64|arm64|armv8-a)$")
         set(ARM_TARGET 8)