diff --git a/script/update.py b/script/update.py
index 8d850905b529..2a0c044368a2 100755
--- a/script/update.py
+++ b/script/update.py
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ SOURCE_ROOT = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__)))
 def main():
   os.chdir(SOURCE_ROOT)
 
+  if platform.architecture()[0] != '64bit':
+    print 'Electron is required to be built on a 64bit machine'
+    return 1
+
   update_external_binaries()
   return update_gyp()
 
@@ -51,12 +55,5 @@ def run_gyp(target_arch, component):
                           'atom.gyp', '-Icommon.gypi'] + defines)
 
 
-def get_host_arch():
-  if platform.architecture()[0] == '32bit':
-    return 'ia32'
-  else:
-    return 'x64'
-
-
 if __name__ == '__main__':
   sys.exit(main())