diff --git a/guix/profiles.scm b/guix/profiles.scm
index 8355af7a48..ce8a11fbe5 100644
--- a/guix/profiles.scm
+++ b/guix/profiles.scm
@@ -811,6 +811,7 @@ the monadic procedures listed in HOOKS--such as an Info 'dir' file, etc."
                          #:search-paths search-paths)))
 
     (gexp->derivation "profile" builder
+                      #:system system
                       #:modules '((guix build profiles)
                                   (guix build union)
                                   (guix build utils)
diff --git a/tests/guix-environment.sh b/tests/guix-environment.sh
index 5ad8dfa82a..0b5123ab45 100644
--- a/tests/guix-environment.sh
+++ b/tests/guix-environment.sh
@@ -57,6 +57,21 @@ else
     test $? = 42
 fi
 
+case "`uname -m`" in
+    x86_64)
+	# On x86_64, we should be able to create a 32-bit environment.
+	guix environment --bootstrap --ad-hoc guile-bootstrap --pure	\
+	     -- guile -c '(exit (string-prefix? "x86_64" %host-type))'
+	guix environment --bootstrap --ad-hoc guile-bootstrap --pure	\
+	     -s i686-linux						\
+	     -- guile -c '(exit (string-prefix? "i686" %host-type))'
+	;;
+    *)
+	echo "nothing to do" >&2
+	;;
+esac
+
+
 # Same as above, but with deprecated -E flag.
 if guix environment --bootstrap --ad-hoc guile-bootstrap --pure \
         -E "guile -c '(exit 42)'"