diff --git a/pmb/build/autodetect.py b/pmb/build/autodetect.py
index 9526d300..7d75df1f 100644
--- a/pmb/build/autodetect.py
+++ b/pmb/build/autodetect.py
@@ -57,7 +57,10 @@ def arch(args, pkgname):
     if arch_device in arches:
         return arch_device
 
-    return apkbuild["arch"][0]
+    try:
+        return apkbuild["arch"][0]
+    except IndexError:
+        return None
 
 
 def suffix(args, apkbuild, arch):
diff --git a/pmb/build/menuconfig.py b/pmb/build/menuconfig.py
index ae4fcd0c..f9e32a3e 100644
--- a/pmb/build/menuconfig.py
+++ b/pmb/build/menuconfig.py
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ def get_arch(args, apkbuild):
     """
     pkgname = apkbuild["pkgname"]
 
+    # Disabled package (arch="")
+    if not apkbuild["arch"]:
+        raise RuntimeError(f"'{pkgname}' is disabled (arch=\"\"). Please use"
+                           " '--arch' to specify the desired architecture.")
+
     # Multiple architectures
     if len(apkbuild["arch"]) > 1:
         raise RuntimeError(f"'{pkgname}' supports multiple architectures"
diff --git a/pmb/parse/_apkbuild.py b/pmb/parse/_apkbuild.py
index da4604c1..6d743645 100644
--- a/pmb/parse/_apkbuild.py
+++ b/pmb/parse/_apkbuild.py
@@ -312,10 +312,6 @@ def apkbuild(args, path, check_pkgver=True, check_pkgname=True):
             raise RuntimeError("The pkgname must be equal to the name of"
                                " the folder, that contains the APKBUILD!")
 
-    # Sanity check: arch
-    if not len(ret["arch"]):
-        raise RuntimeError("Arch must not be empty: " + path)
-
     # Sanity check: pkgver
     if check_pkgver:
         if "-r" in ret["pkgver"] or not pmb.parse.version.validate(ret["pkgver"]):