diff --git a/qmake/library/qmakeevaluator.cpp b/qmake/library/qmakeevaluator.cpp
index fe089c1059..9b5291a08e 100644
--- a/qmake/library/qmakeevaluator.cpp
+++ b/qmake/library/qmakeevaluator.cpp
@@ -962,7 +962,11 @@ static ProString msvcBinDirToQMakeArch(QString subdir)
 
 static ProString defaultMsvcArchitecture()
 {
+#if defined(Q_OS_WIN64)
+    return ProString("x86_64");
+#else
     return ProString("x86");
+#endif
 }
 
 static ProString msvcArchitecture(const QString &vcInstallDir, const QString &pathVar)