diff --git a/rustup-init.sh b/rustup-init.sh
index 7df218a9fd..7a802618c6 100755
--- a/rustup-init.sh
+++ b/rustup-init.sh
@@ -299,13 +299,20 @@ get_architecture() {
 
     esac
 
-    # Detect 64-bit linux with 32-bit userland
+    # Detect 64-bit linux with 32-bit userland for x86
     if [ $_ostype = unknown-linux-gnu -a $_cputype = x86_64 ]; then
         if [ "$(get_bitness)" = "32" ]; then
             local _cputype=i686
         fi
     fi
 
+    # Detect 64-bit linux with 32-bit userland for powerpc
+    if [ $_ostype = unknown-linux-gnu -a $_cputype = powerpc64 ]; then
+        if [ "$(get_bitness)" = "32" ]; then
+            local _cputype=powerpc
+        fi
+    fi
+
     # Detect armv7 but without the CPU features Rust needs in that build,
     # and fall back to arm.
     # See https://github.com/rust-lang/rustup.rs/issues/587.