diff --git a/debian/rules.d/0-common-vars.mk b/debian/rules.d/0-common-vars.mk
index e03fa14..eddcd0d 100644
--- a/debian/rules.d/0-common-vars.mk
+++ b/debian/rules.d/0-common-vars.mk
@@ -96,7 +96,32 @@ endif
 # committing changes to the top level Makefile
 SUBLEVEL	:= $(shell echo $(release) | awk -F. '{print $$3}')
 
-arch		:= $(shell dpkg-architecture -qDEB_HOST_ARCH)
+DEB_HOST_GNU_TYPE  = $(shell dpkg-architecture -qDEB_HOST_GNU_TYPE)
+DEB_BUILD_GNU_TYPE = $(shell dpkg-architecture -qDEB_BUILD_GNU_TYPE)
+DEB_HOST_ARCH = $(shell dpkg-architecture -qDEB_HOST_ARCH)
+DEB_BUILD_ARCH = $(shell dpkg-architecture -qDEB_BUILD_ARCH)
+
+#
+# Detect invocations of the form 'fakeroot debian/rules binary arch=armel'
+# within an x86'en schroot. This only gets you part of the way sicne the
+# packaging phase fails, but you can at least compile the kernel quickly.
+#
+arch := $(DEB_HOST_ARCH)
+ifneq ($(arch),$(DEB_HOST_ARCH))
+	ifeq ($(arch),armel)
+		cross_compile = CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueabi-
+	endif
+endif
+
+#
+# Detect invocations of the form 'dpk-buildpackage -B -aarmel' within
+# an x86'en schroot. This is the only way to build all of the packages
+# (except for tools).
+#
+ifneq ($(DEB_BUILD_GNU_TYPE),$(DEB_HOST_GNU_TYPE))
+	cross_compile = CROSS_COMPILE=$(DEB_HOST_GNU_TYPE)-
+endif
+
 abidir		:= $(CURDIR)/$(DEBIAN)/abi/$(release)-$(revision)/$(arch)
 prev_abidir	:= $(CURDIR)/$(DEBIAN)/abi/$(release)-$(prev_revision)/$(arch)
 commonconfdir	:= $(CURDIR)/$(DEBIAN)/config
@@ -198,3 +223,12 @@ kmake = make ARCH=$(build_arch) \
 ifneq ($(LOCAL_ENV_CC),)
 kmake += CC=$(LOCAL_ENV_CC) DISTCC_HOSTS=$(LOCAL_ENV_DISTCC_HOSTS)
 endif
+
+ifneq ($(cross_compile),)
+	#
+	# Can't build the tools 'cause the make wants cross libraries and such.
+	#
+	do_tools=false
+	kmake += $(cross_compile)
+endif
+
diff --git a/debian/rules.d/1-maintainer.mk b/debian/rules.d/1-maintainer.mk
index 7ad68dd..9713e3d 100644
--- a/debian/rules.d/1-maintainer.mk
+++ b/debian/rules.d/1-maintainer.mk
@@ -109,6 +109,12 @@ endif
 	@echo "do_tools                  = $(do_tools)"
 	@echo "full_build                = $(full_build)"
 	@echo "libc_dev_version		 = $(libc_dev_version)"
+	@echo "DEB_HOST_GNU_TYPE         = $(DEB_HOST_GNU_TYPE)"
+	@echo "DEB_BUILD_GNU_TYPE        = $(DEB_BUILD_GNU_TYPE)"
+	@echo "DEB_HOST_ARCH             = $(DEB_HOST_ARCH)"
+	@echo "DEB_BUILD_ARCH            = $(DEB_BUILD_ARCH)"
+	@echo "arch                      = $(arch)"
+	@echo "kmake                     = $(kmake)"
 
 printchanges:
 	@baseCommit=$$(git log --pretty=format:'%H %s' | \
diff --git a/debian/rules.d/2-binary-arch.mk b/debian/rules.d/2-binary-arch.mk
index 1d26496..ccb3fce 100644
--- a/debian/rules.d/2-binary-arch.mk
+++ b/debian/rules.d/2-binary-arch.mk
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ binary-%: install-%
 	dh_fixperms -p$(pkgimg)
 	dh_installdeb -p$(pkgimg)
 	dh_shlibdeps -p$(pkgimg)
-	dh_gencontrol -p$(pkgimg)
+	export DEB_BUILD_ARCH=$(arch) && export DEB_HOST_ARCH=$(arch) && dh_gencontrol -p$(pkgimg)
 	dh_md5sums -p$(pkgimg)
 	dh_builddeb -p$(pkgimg) -- -Zbzip2 -z9