diff --git a/core/combo/HOST_linux-x86.mk b/core/combo/HOST_linux-x86.mk
index ec443ae..26052d6 100644
--- a/core/combo/HOST_linux-x86.mk
+++ b/core/combo/HOST_linux-x86.mk
@@ -22,9 +22,12 @@
 stat --format "%s" "$(1)" | tr -d '\n'
 endef
 
-# The emulator is 32-bit-only. Force host tools to be built
-# in 32-bit when the emulator is involved.
-# Why we don't also force simulator builds to be 32-bit is a mystery.
+# We build everything in 32-bit, because some host tools are
+# 32-bit-only anyway (emulator, acc), and because it gives us
+# more consistency between the host tools and the target.
+# The exception is the host side of the simulator, which
+# requires to use the default size, as wxWidgets code otherwise
+# fails to build.
 ifneq ($(TARGET_SIMULATOR),true)
 HOST_GLOBAL_CFLAGS += -m32
 HOST_GLOBAL_LDFLAGS += -m32
diff --git a/core/combo/TARGET_linux-x86.mk b/core/combo/TARGET_linux-x86.mk
index 80adbcf..ddd5c48 100644
--- a/core/combo/TARGET_linux-x86.mk
+++ b/core/combo/TARGET_linux-x86.mk
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@
 TARGET_CC := $(HOST_CC)
 TARGET_CXX := $(HOST_CXX)
 TARGET_AR := $(HOST_AR)
-TARGET_GLOBAL_CFLAGS := $(HOST_GLOBAL_CFLAGS)
-TARGET_GLOBAL_LDFLAGS := $(HOST_GLOBAL_LDFLAGS)
+TARGET_GLOBAL_CFLAGS := $(HOST_GLOBAL_CFLAGS) -m32
+TARGET_GLOBAL_LDFLAGS := $(HOST_GLOBAL_LDFLAGS) -m32
 TARGET_NO_UNDEFINED_LDFLAGS := $(HOST_NO_UNDEFINED_LDFLAGS)
 else #simulator