diff --git a/pmb/build/other.py b/pmb/build/other.py
index 7928f22c..561aaab9 100644
--- a/pmb/build/other.py
+++ b/pmb/build/other.py
@@ -55,6 +55,13 @@ def is_necessary(args, arch, apkbuild, indexes=None):
         logging.debug(msg + "No binary package available")
         return True
 
+    # Can't build pmaport for arch: use Alpine's package (#1897)
+    if arch and not pmb.helpers.pmaports.check_arches(apkbuild["arch"], arch):
+        logging.verbose(f"{package}: build is not necessary, because pmaport"
+                        " can't be built for {arch}. Using Alpine's binary"
+                        " package.")
+        return False
+
     # a) Binary repo has a newer version
     version_old = index_data["version"]
     if pmb.parse.version.compare(version_old, version_new) == 1:
diff --git a/test/test_build_is_necessary.py b/test/test_build_is_necessary.py
index 0f43f4a4..35eb4bbc 100644
--- a/test/test_build_is_necessary.py
+++ b/test/test_build_is_necessary.py
@@ -73,3 +73,15 @@ def test_build_is_necessary_no_binary_available(args):
     aport = pmb.helpers.pmaports.find(args, "hello-world")
     apkbuild = pmb.parse.apkbuild(args, aport + "/APKBUILD")
     assert pmb.build.is_necessary(args, None, apkbuild, indexes) is True
+
+
+def test_build_is_necessary_cant_build_pmaport_for_arch(args):
+    """ pmaport version is higher than Alpine's binary package, but pmaport
+        can't be built for given arch. (#1897) """
+
+    apkbuild = {"pkgname": "alpine-base",
+                "arch": "armhf",  # can't build for x86_64!
+                "pkgver": "9999",
+                "pkgrel": "0"}
+    assert pmb.build.is_necessary(args, "x86_64", apkbuild) is False
+    assert pmb.build.is_necessary(args, "armhf", apkbuild) is True