diff --git a/boot/grub/grub.mk b/boot/grub/grub.mk
index 6ba02cd503..eb066af76c 100644
--- a/boot/grub/grub.mk
+++ b/boot/grub/grub.mk
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ GRUB_POST_PATCH_HOOKS += GRUB_DEBIAN_PATCHES
 
 GRUB_CONF_ENV = \
 	$(HOST_CONFIGURE_OPTS) \
-	CFLAGS="$(HOST_CFLAGS) $(GRUB_CFLAGS)"
+	CFLAGS="$(HOST_CFLAGS) $(GRUB_CFLAGS) -m32"
 
 GRUB_CONF_OPT = \
 	--disable-auto-linux-mem-opt \