--- setarch.c
+++ setarch.c
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@
     }
 
   pers_value = transitions[i].perval | options;
+retry_set_pers:
   res = set_pers(pers_value);
   if(res == -EINVAL)
     return 1;
@@ -112,6 +113,15 @@
 	     && strcmp(un.machine, "i686")
 	     && strcmp(un.machine, "athlon")))
 	{
+	  /* if we are switching to 64bit mode and it failed,
+	   * see if it was because we need to enforce the 32bit
+	   * memory limit (-B) ... */
+	  if(pers_value == PER_LINUX)
+	    {
+	      fprintf(stderr, "Unable to set arch to %s, retrying with 32bit memory limit (-B) ...\n", pers);
+	      pers_value = PER_LINUX_32BIT;
+	      goto retry_set_pers;
+	    }
 	  fprintf(stderr, "Unable to set arch to %s\n", pers);
 	  exit(1);
 	}