diff --git a/configure b/configure
index acf3b606d0..8336594de3 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ if test -z "$_target" ; then
       arm*) host_arch=arm ;;
       s390) host_arch=s390 ;;
       s390x) host_arch=s390x ;;
-      mips) host_arch=mips ;;
+      mips*) host_arch=mips ;;
       vax) host_arch=vax ;;
       *) host_arch=UNKNOWN ;;
     esac