diff --git a/core/src/s9pk/v2/pack.rs b/core/src/s9pk/v2/pack.rs
index d0d029be2..fbde00c6e 100644
--- a/core/src/s9pk/v2/pack.rs
+++ b/core/src/s9pk/v2/pack.rs
@@ -686,7 +686,7 @@ pub async fn pack(ctx: CliContext, params: PackParams) -> Result<(), Error> {
     let manifest = s9pk.as_manifest_mut();
     manifest.git_hash = Some(GitHash::from_path(params.path()).await?);
     if !params.arch.is_empty() {
-        let arches = match manifest.hardware_requirements.arch.take() {
+        let arches: BTreeSet<InternedString> = match manifest.hardware_requirements.arch.take() {
             Some(a) => params
                 .arch
                 .iter()
@@ -695,10 +695,26 @@ pub async fn pack(ctx: CliContext, params: PackParams) -> Result<(), Error> {
                 .collect(),
             None => params.arch.iter().cloned().collect(),
         };
-        manifest
-            .images
-            .values_mut()
-            .for_each(|c| c.arch = c.arch.intersection(&arches).cloned().collect());
+        if arches.is_empty() {
+            return Err(Error::new(
+                eyre!(
+                    "none of the requested architectures ({:?}) are supported by this package",
+                    params.arch
+                ),
+                ErrorKind::InvalidRequest,
+            ));
+        }
+        manifest.images.values_mut().for_each(|c| {
+            let mut to_load = BTreeSet::new();
+            for arch in &arches {
+                if c.arch.contains(arch) {
+                    to_load.insert(arch.clone());
+                } else if let Some(ref emulate_as) = c.emulate_missing_as {
+                    to_load.insert(emulate_as.clone());
+                }
+            }
+            c.arch = to_load;
+        });
         manifest.hardware_requirements.arch = Some(arches);
     }
 
diff --git a/sdk/base/lib/types/ManifestTypes.ts b/sdk/base/lib/types/ManifestTypes.ts
index 3ca2ae0cb..b255a6393 100644
--- a/sdk/base/lib/types/ManifestTypes.ts
+++ b/sdk/base/lib/types/ManifestTypes.ts
@@ -132,7 +132,6 @@ export type SDKManifest = {
    *    `pattern` refers to a regular expression that at least one device of the specified class must match
    *    `patternDescription` is what will be displayed to the user about what kind of device is required
    * @property {number} ram - Minimum RAM requirement (in megabytes MB)
-   * @property {string[]} arch - List of supported arches
    * @example
    * ```
     hardwareRequirements: {
@@ -141,14 +140,12 @@ export type SDKManifest = {
         { class: 'processor', pattern: 'i[3579]-10[0-9]{3}U CPU', patternDescription: 'A 10th Generation Intel i-Series processor' },
       ],
       ram: 8192,
-      arch: ['x86-64'],
     },
    * ```
    */
   readonly hardwareRequirements?: {
     readonly device?: T.DeviceFilter[]
     readonly ram?: number | null
-    readonly arch?: string[] | null
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/sdk/package/lib/manifest/setupManifest.ts b/sdk/package/lib/manifest/setupManifest.ts
index 2d86bc5cd..c028ca514 100644
--- a/sdk/package/lib/manifest/setupManifest.ts
+++ b/sdk/package/lib/manifest/setupManifest.ts
@@ -75,21 +75,18 @@ export function buildManifest<
     hardwareRequirements: {
       device: manifest.hardwareRequirements?.device || [],
       ram: manifest.hardwareRequirements?.ram || null,
-      arch:
-        manifest.hardwareRequirements?.arch === undefined
-          ? Object.values(images).reduce(
-              (arch, inputSpec) => {
-                if (inputSpec.emulateMissingAs) {
-                  return arch
-                }
-                if (arch === null) {
-                  return inputSpec.arch
-                }
-                return arch.filter((a) => inputSpec.arch.includes(a))
-              },
-              null as string[] | null,
-            )
-          : manifest.hardwareRequirements?.arch,
+      arch: Object.values(images).reduce(
+        (arch, inputSpec) => {
+          if (inputSpec.emulateMissingAs) {
+            return arch
+          }
+          if (arch === null) {
+            return inputSpec.arch
+          }
+          return arch.filter((a) => inputSpec.arch.includes(a))
+        },
+        null as string[] | null,
+      ),
     },
     hardwareAcceleration: manifest.hardwareAcceleration ?? false,
   }