diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/dependency_collector.rb b/Library/Homebrew/dependency_collector.rb
index 92450a771b..cfbb066954 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/dependency_collector.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/dependency_collector.rb
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ private
     when :postgresql then PostgresqlDependency.new(tag)
     when :tex        then TeXDependency.new(tag)
     when :clt        then CLTDependency.new(tag)
+    when :arch       then ArchRequirement.new(tag)
     else
       raise "Unsupported special dependency #{spec}"
     end
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/requirements.rb b/Library/Homebrew/requirements.rb
index 1f58e6b0ad..988a0a6c0f 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/requirements.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/requirements.rb
@@ -334,3 +334,23 @@ class CLTDependency < Requirement
     EOS
   end
 end
+
+class ArchRequirement < Requirement
+  fatal true
+
+  def initialize(arch)
+    @arch = arch
+    super
+  end
+
+  satisfy do
+    case @arch
+    when :x86_64 then MacOS.prefer_64_bit?
+    end
+  end
+
+  def message; <<-EOS.undent
+    This formula requires an #{@arch} architecture.
+    EOS
+  end
+end