diff --git a/script/update.py b/script/update.py
index 63b7b4f72185..807c8f79defb 100755
--- a/script/update.py
+++ b/script/update.py
@@ -23,11 +23,13 @@ def update_external_binaries():
 def update_gyp():
   gyp = os.path.join('vendor', 'brightray', 'vendor', 'gyp', 'gyp_main.py')
   python = sys.executable
-  if sys.platform == 'cygwin':
-    python = os.path.join('vendor', 'python_26', 'python.exe')
   arch = 'ia32'
-  if sys.platform == 'darwin':
+  if sys.platform.startswith('linux') and sys.maxsize > 2**32:
     arch = 'x64'
+  elif sys.platform == 'darwin':
+    arch = 'x64'
+  elif sys.platform in ['cygwin', 'win32']:
+    python = os.path.join('vendor', 'python_26', 'python.exe')
   subprocess.call([python, gyp,
                    '-f', 'ninja', '--depth', '.', 'atom.gyp',
                    '-Icommon.gypi', '-Ivendor/brightray/brightray.gypi',