diff --git a/etc/settings.csh b/etc/settings.csh
index 0e15cef31e..c8807695b5 100644
--- a/etc/settings.csh
+++ b/etc/settings.csh
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ case Linux:
     case x86_64:
         switch ($WM_ARCH_OPTION)
         case 32:
-            setenv WM_COMPILER_ARCH '-64'
+            setenv WM_COMPILER_ARCH 64
             setenv WM_CC 'gcc'
             setenv WM_CXX 'g++'
             setenv WM_CFLAGS '-m32 -fPIC'
diff --git a/etc/settings.sh b/etc/settings.sh
index f3ccaebb18..650861fa10 100644
--- a/etc/settings.sh
+++ b/etc/settings.sh
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ Linux)
     x86_64)
         case "$WM_ARCH_OPTION" in
         32)
-            export WM_COMPILER_ARCH='-64'
+            export WM_COMPILER_ARCH=64
             export WM_CC='gcc'
             export WM_CXX='g++'
             export WM_CFLAGS='-m32 -fPIC'