diff --git a/cmd/dagger/cmd/new.go b/cmd/dagger/cmd/new.go
index 3ab0b6b3..a658418a 100644
--- a/cmd/dagger/cmd/new.go
+++ b/cmd/dagger/cmd/new.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ var newCmd = &cobra.Command{
 
 		st, err := project.Create(ctx, name, state.Plan{
 			Package: viper.GetString("package"),
-		})
+		}, viper.GetString("architecture"))
 
 		if err != nil {
 			lg.Fatal().Err(err).Msg("failed to create environment")
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ var newCmd = &cobra.Command{
 
 func init() {
 	newCmd.Flags().StringP("package", "p", "", "references the name of the Cue package within the module to use as a plan. Default: defer to cue loader")
+	newCmd.Flags().StringP("architecture", "a", "", "architecture of the running pipeline. Default: host architecture")
 	if err := viper.BindPFlags(newCmd.Flags()); err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
diff --git a/state/project.go b/state/project.go
index fc8d0ebc..902a2909 100644
--- a/state/project.go
+++ b/state/project.go
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ func (w *Project) Save(ctx context.Context, st *State) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (w *Project) Create(ctx context.Context, name string, plan Plan) (*State, error) {
+func (w *Project) Create(ctx context.Context, name string, plan Plan, arch string) (*State, error) {
 	if _, err := w.Get(ctx, name); err == nil {
 		return nil, ErrExist
 	}
@@ -262,6 +262,10 @@ func (w *Project) Create(ctx context.Context, name string, plan Plan) (*State, e
 
 	manifestPath := path.Join(envPath, manifestFile)
 
+	if arch == "" {
+		arch = platforms.Format(platforms.DefaultSpec())
+	}
+
 	st := &State{
 		Path:    envPath,
 		Project: w.Path,
@@ -269,7 +273,7 @@ func (w *Project) Create(ctx context.Context, name string, plan Plan) (*State, e
 			Package: pkg,
 		},
 		Name:         name,
-		Architecture: platforms.DefaultString(),
+		Architecture: arch,
 	}
 
 	data, err := yaml.Marshal(st)
diff --git a/state/project_test.go b/state/project_test.go
index 137a3333..7eeb7b93 100644
--- a/state/project_test.go
+++ b/state/project_test.go
@@ -32,9 +32,10 @@ func TestProject(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create
 	st, err := project.Create(ctx, "test", Plan{
 		Module: ".",
-	})
+	}, "linux/amd64")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, "test", st.Name)
+	require.Equal(t, "linux/amd64", st.Architecture)
 
 	// Open
 	project, err = Open(ctx, root)
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ func TestProject(t *testing.T) {
 	env, err := project.Get(ctx, "test")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, "test", env.Name)
+	require.Equal(t, "linux/amd64", env.Architecture)
 
 	// Save
 	require.NoError(t, env.SetInput("foo", TextInput("bar")))
@@ -82,7 +84,7 @@ func TestEncryption(t *testing.T) {
 
 	_, err = project.Create(ctx, "test", Plan{
 		Module: ".",
-	})
+	}, "linux/amd64")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Set a plaintext input, make sure it is not encrypted