diff --git a/ape/ape.S b/ape/ape.S
index d92863b9bed..25d5b199a4a 100644
--- a/ape/ape.S
+++ b/ape/ape.S
@@ -592,8 +592,9 @@ ape_disk:
 
 #ifdef APE_IS_SHELL_SCRIPT
 apesh:	.ascii	"\n@\n#'\"\n"			// sixth edition shebang
-	.ascii	"m=\"$(/bin/uname -m >/dev/null)\" || "
-	.ascii	"m=\"$(/usr/bin/uname -m)\"\n"
+	.ascii	"m=$(/bin/uname -m 2>/dev/null) || "
+	.ascii	"m=$(/usr/bin/uname -m 2>/dev/null) || "
+	.ascii	"m=x86_64\n"
 
 	.ascii	"if [ \"$m\" = x86_64 ] || [ \"$m\" = amd64 ]; then\n"
 //	Until all operating systems can be updated to support APE,
diff --git a/tool/build/apelink.c b/tool/build/apelink.c
index efad1c41c30..5807ac1073b 100644
--- a/tool/build/apelink.c
+++ b/tool/build/apelink.c
@@ -1944,8 +1944,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     }
 
     // otherwise this is a fresh install so consider the platform
-    p = stpcpy(p, "m=\"$(/bin/uname -m >/dev/null)\" || "
-                  "m=\"$(/usr/bin/uname -m)\"\n");
+    p = stpcpy(p, "m=$(/bin/uname -m 2>/dev/null) || "
+                  "m=$(/usr/bin/uname -m 2>/dev/null) || "
+                  "m=x86_64\n");
     if (support_vector & _HOSTXNU) {
       p = stpcpy(p, "if [ ! -d /Applications ]; then\n");
     }