diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a8656e0..3e822b9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -51,6 +51,16 @@ steps:
     include-prerelease: true
 - run: dotnet build <my project>
 ```
+Specific architecture:
+```yml
+steps:
+- uses: actions/checkout@v3
+- uses: actions/setup-dotnet@v2
+  with:
+    dotnet-version: '6.0.x'
+    architecture: 'x86'
+- run: dotnet build <my project>
+```
 global.json in a subdirectory:
 ```yml
 steps:
diff --git a/__tests__/installer.test.ts b/__tests__/installer.test.ts
index 532da18..b5ad51d 100644
--- a/__tests__/installer.test.ts
+++ b/__tests__/installer.test.ts
@@ -86,6 +86,26 @@ describe('installer tests', () => {
     expect(process.env.PATH?.startsWith(toolDir)).toBe(true);
   }, 600000); //This needs some time to download on "slower" internet connections
 
+
+  it('Acquires architecture-specific version of dotnet if no matching version is installed', async () => {
+    await getDotnet('3.1', 'x86');
+    var directory = fs
+      .readdirSync(path.join(toolDir, 'sdk'))
+      .filter(fn => fn.startsWith('3.1.'));
+    expect(directory.length > 0).toBe(true);
+    if (IS_WINDOWS) {
+      expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(toolDir, 'dotnet.exe'))).toBe(true);
+    } else {
+      expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(toolDir, 'dotnet'))).toBe(true);
+    }
+
+    expect(process.env.DOTNET_ROOT).toBeDefined;
+    expect(process.env.PATH).toBeDefined;
+    expect(process.env.DOTNET_ROOT).toBe(toolDir);
+    expect(process.env.PATH?.startsWith(toolDir)).toBe(true);
+  }, 600000); //This needs some time to download on "slower" internet connections
+
+
   it('Throws if no location contains correct dotnet version', async () => {
     let thrown = false;
     try {
@@ -144,8 +164,8 @@ function normalizeFileContents(contents: string): string {
     .replace(new RegExp('\r', 'g'), '\n');
 }
 
-async function getDotnet(version: string): Promise<void> {
-  const dotnetInstaller = new installer.DotnetCoreInstaller(version);
+async function getDotnet(version: string, architecture: string = ''): Promise<void> {
+  const dotnetInstaller = new installer.DotnetCoreInstaller(version, architecture);
   await dotnetInstaller.installDotnet();
   installer.DotnetCoreInstaller.addToPath();
 }
diff --git a/src/installer.ts b/src/installer.ts
index c25d23a..53b2871 100644
--- a/src/installer.ts
+++ b/src/installer.ts
@@ -79,8 +79,9 @@ export class DotNetVersionInfo {
 }
 
 export class DotnetCoreInstaller {
-  constructor(version: string, includePrerelease: boolean = false) {
+  constructor(version: string, architecture:string = '', includePrerelease: boolean = false) {
     this.version = version;
+    this.architecture = architecture;
     this.includePrerelease = includePrerelease;
   }
 
@@ -115,6 +116,10 @@ export class DotnetCoreInstaller {
         command += ` -ProxyBypassList ${process.env['no_proxy']}`;
       }
 
+      if (this.architecture != ''){
+        command += ` -Architecture ${this.architecture}`;
+      }
+
       // process.env must be explicitly passed in for DOTNET_INSTALL_DIR to be used
       const powershellPath = await io.which('powershell', true);
 
@@ -154,6 +159,10 @@ export class DotnetCoreInstaller {
         scriptArguments.push('--version', calculatedVersion);
       }
 
+      if (this.architecture != '') {
+        scriptArguments.push('--architecture', this.architecture);
+      }
+
       // process.env must be explicitly passed in for DOTNET_INSTALL_DIR to be used
       resultCode = await exec.exec(`"${scriptPath}"`, scriptArguments, {
         listeners: {
@@ -296,6 +305,7 @@ export class DotnetCoreInstaller {
   }
 
   private version: string;
+  private architecture: string;
   private includePrerelease: boolean;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/setup-dotnet.ts b/src/setup-dotnet.ts
index 64f3149..2768ec0 100644
--- a/src/setup-dotnet.ts
+++ b/src/setup-dotnet.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ export async function run() {
     // Proxy, auth, (etc) are still set up, even if no version is identified
     //
     let versions = core.getMultilineInput('dotnet-version');
+    let architecture = core.getInput('architecture');
+
+    if (!architecture){
+      architecture = '';
+    }
 
     const globalJsonFileInput = core.getInput('global-json-file');
     if (globalJsonFileInput) {
@@ -45,6 +50,7 @@ export async function run() {
       for (const version of new Set<string>(versions)) {
         dotnetInstaller = new installer.DotnetCoreInstaller(
           version,
+          architecture,
           includePrerelease
         );
         await dotnetInstaller.installDotnet();