diff --git a/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc b/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
index a6722a1f8..9d541b45d 100644
--- a/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
+++ b/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
@@ -131,11 +131,14 @@ static int main_build_remote(int argc, char * * argv)
                 for (auto & m : machines) {
                     debug("considering building on remote machine '%s'", m.storeUri);
 
-                    if (m.enabled && std::find(m.systemTypes.begin(),
-                            m.systemTypes.end(),
-                            neededSystem) != m.systemTypes.end() &&
+                    if (m.enabled
+                        && (neededSystem == "builtin"
+                            || std::find(m.systemTypes.begin(),
+                                m.systemTypes.end(),
+                                neededSystem) != m.systemTypes.end()) &&
                         m.allSupported(requiredFeatures) &&
-                        m.mandatoryMet(requiredFeatures)) {
+                        m.mandatoryMet(requiredFeatures))
+                    {
                         rightType = true;
                         AutoCloseFD free;
                         uint64_t load = 0;