--- a/Makefile.pre.in
+++ b/Makefile.pre.in
@@ -1357,6 +1357,11 @@
 
 Python/thread.o: @THREADHEADERS@
 
+Python/sysmodule.o: $(srcdir)/Python/sysmodule.c Makefile
+	$(CC) -c $(PY_CORE_CFLAGS) \
+		-DMULTIARCH='"$(MULTIARCH)"' \
+		-o $@ $(srcdir)/Python/sysmodule.c
+
 # Declare targets that aren't real files
 .PHONY: all build_all sharedmods oldsharedmods test quicktest memtest
 .PHONY: install altinstall oldsharedinstall bininstall altbininstall
--- a/Python/sysmodule.c
+++ b/Python/sysmodule.c
@@ -1435,6 +1435,8 @@
                         PyFloat_GetInfo());
     SET_SYS_FROM_STRING("long_info",
                         PyLong_GetInfo());
+    SET_SYS_FROM_STRING("_multiarch",
+                        PyString_FromString(MULTIARCH));
 #ifdef Py_USING_UNICODE
     SET_SYS_FROM_STRING("maxunicode",
                         PyInt_FromLong(PyUnicode_GetMax()));