diff --git a/bin/ecbundle-create b/bin/ecbundle-create
index 91bf285..cc412a7 100755
--- a/bin/ecbundle-create
+++ b/bin/ecbundle-create
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ def main():
     parser.add_argument('--src-dir',
                         help='Directory containing repositories', default='source')
 
+    parser.add_argument('--arch-dir',
+                        help='Directory containing supported architectures', default='arch')
+
     parser.add_argument('--update',
                         help='Update local checkout with remote changes',
                         action='store_true')
diff --git a/ecbundle/create.py b/ecbundle/create.py
index ca2f11f..df6270c 100644
--- a/ecbundle/create.py
+++ b/ecbundle/create.py
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ def dryrun(self):
     def src_dir(self):
         return fullpath(self.get("src_dir", "source"))
 
+    def arch_dir(self):
+        return self.get("arch_dir", "arch")
+
     def bundle(self):
         bundle_path = fullpath(self.get("bundle", None))
         if bundle_path:
@@ -66,9 +69,16 @@ def create(self):
 
         bundle_yml_file = src_dir + "/bundle.yml"
 
+        arch_dir = self.arch_dir()
+        if os.path.isabs(arch_dir):
+            symlink_force(arch_dir, src_dir + "/arch")
+        else:
+            symlink_force(
+                os.path.dirname(bundle.file()) + f"/{arch_dir}", src_dir + "/arch"
+            )
+
         if self.bundle_needs_updating():
             symlink_force(bundle.file(), bundle_yml_file)
-            symlink_force(os.path.dirname(bundle.file()) + "/arch", src_dir + "/arch")
 
             self.create_cmakelists_from_bundle()
 
diff --git a/tests/bundle_create/test_create.py b/tests/bundle_create/test_create.py
index b35ba76..18d76a2 100644
--- a/tests/bundle_create/test_create.py
+++ b/tests/bundle_create/test_create.py
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ def test_create_simple(here, cleanup):
         "dry_run": True,
         "bundle": "%s" % here,
         "src_dir": "%s" % src_dir,
+        "arch_dir": "%s" % (here / "arch"),
         "update": False,
         "forced_update": False,
         "threads": 1,
@@ -80,6 +81,7 @@ def test_create_optional_fail(here, cleanup):
         "dryrun": True,
         "dry_run": True,
         "src_dir": "%s" % src_dir,
+        "arch_dir": "%s" % (here / "arch"),
         "update": False,
         "forced_update": False,
         "threads": 1,
@@ -117,6 +119,7 @@ def test_create_optional_success(here, cleanup):
         "dryrun": True,
         "dry_run": True,
         "src_dir": "%s" % src_dir,
+        "arch_dir": "%s" % (here / "arch"),
         "update": False,
         "forced_update": False,
         "threads": 1,
@@ -158,6 +161,7 @@ def test_create_existing_symlink(here, cleanup, watcher):
         "dry_run": True,
         "bundle": "%s" % here,
         "src_dir": "%s" % src_dir,
+        "arch_dir": "%s" % (here / "arch"),
         "update": False,
         "forced_update": False,
         "threads": 1,
diff --git a/tests/bundle_install/test_install.py b/tests/bundle_install/test_install.py
index 45e0fc4..367bb21 100644
--- a/tests/bundle_install/test_install.py
+++ b/tests/bundle_install/test_install.py
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ def args(here):
         "cmake": None,
         "project1.cmake": None,
         "arch": None,
+        "arch_dir": "%s" % (here / "arch"),
         "build_type": "BIT",
         "bundle": "%s" % here,
     }