diff --git a/build_files/utils/make_update.py b/build_files/utils/make_update.py
index a6fecdce54f..c5e3a5fafe6 100755
--- a/build_files/utils/make_update.py
+++ b/build_files/utils/make_update.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ def parse_arguments() -> argparse.Namespace:
     parser.add_argument("--svn-branch", default=None)
     parser.add_argument("--git-command", default="git")
     parser.add_argument("--use-linux-libraries", action="store_true")
+    parser.add_argument("--architecture", type=str, choices=("x86_64", "arm64",))
     return parser.parse_args()
 
 
@@ -51,6 +52,17 @@ def get_blender_git_root() -> str:
 # Setup for precompiled libraries and tests from svn.
 
 
+def get_effective_architecture(args: argparse.Namespace):
+    if args.architecture:
+        return args.architecture
+
+    # Check platform.version to detect arm64 with x86_64 python binary.
+    if "ARM64" in platform.version():
+        return "arm64"
+
+    return platform.machine().lower()
+
+
 def svn_update(args: argparse.Namespace, release_version: Optional[str]) -> None:
     svn_non_interactive = [args.svn_command, '--non-interactive']
 
@@ -58,11 +70,11 @@ def svn_update(args: argparse.Namespace, release_version: Optional[str]) -> None
     svn_url = make_utils.svn_libraries_base_url(release_version, args.svn_branch)
 
     # Checkout precompiled libraries
+    architecture = get_effective_architecture(args)
     if sys.platform == 'darwin':
-        # Check platform.version to detect arm64 with x86_64 python binary.
-        if platform.machine() == 'arm64' or ('ARM64' in platform.version()):
+        if architecture == 'arm64':
             lib_platform = "darwin_arm64"
-        elif platform.machine() == 'x86_64':
+        elif architecture == 'x86_64':
             lib_platform = "darwin"
         else:
             lib_platform = None