diff --git a/src/cmd/dist/util.go b/src/cmd/dist/util.go
index 12e14d3ae5..d7e0078c2f 100644
--- a/src/cmd/dist/util.go
+++ b/src/cmd/dist/util.go
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	if gohostarch == "arm" {
-		maxbg = 1
+		maxbg = min(maxbg, runtime.NumCPU())
 	}
 	bginit()
 
@@ -544,3 +544,10 @@ func xgetgoarm() string {
 	}
 	return goarm
 }
+
+func min(a, b int) int {
+	if a < b {
+		return a
+	}
+	return b
+}