diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 6696316a83..dce20f0745 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1216,6 +1216,13 @@ esac
 QEMU_CFLAGS="$CPU_CFLAGS $QEMU_CFLAGS"
 EXTRA_CFLAGS="$CPU_CFLAGS $EXTRA_CFLAGS"
 
+# For user-mode emulation the host arch has to be one we explicitly
+# support, even if we're using TCI.
+if [ "$ARCH" = "unknown" ]; then
+  bsd_user="no"
+  linux_user="no"
+fi
+
 default_target_list=""
 
 mak_wilds=""