diff --git a/apple/internal/transition_support.bzl b/apple/internal/transition_support.bzl
index 1bab5fb884..a3cce8df2b 100644
--- a/apple/internal/transition_support.bzl
+++ b/apple/internal/transition_support.bzl
@@ -107,12 +107,12 @@ def _cpu_string(*, cpu, platform_type, settings = {}):
         macos_cpus = settings["//command_line_option:macos_cpus"]
         if macos_cpus:
             return "darwin_{}".format(macos_cpus[0])
-        cpu_value = settings["//command_line_option:cpu"]
-        if cpu_value.startswith("darwin_"):
-            return cpu_value
         host_cpu = settings["//command_line_option:host_cpu"]
         if host_cpu == "darwin":
             return "darwin"
+        cpu_value = settings["//command_line_option:cpu"]
+        if cpu_value.startswith("darwin_"):
+            return cpu_value
         return "darwin_x86_64"
     if platform_type == "tvos":
         if cpu: