diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 7ac23123c7..231d0398a8 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -5009,9 +5009,11 @@ elif enabled arm; then
         fi
     }
 
-    [ "$cpu" = generic ] && cpu=$(probe_arm_arch)
 
     case $cpu in
+        generic)
+            subarch=$(probe_arm_arch | sed 's/[^a-z0-9]//g')
+        ;;
         armv*)
             cpuflags="-march=$cpu"
             subarch=$(echo $cpu | sed 's/[^a-z0-9]//g')