diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/asm.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/asm.py
index 4b734cf29..1689b3283 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/asm.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/asm.py
@@ -76,7 +76,13 @@ class NasmCompiler(ASMCompiler):
         return True
 
     def get_always_args(self) -> T.List[str]:
-        cpu = '64' if self.info.is_64_bit else '32'
+        if self.info.is_64_bit:
+            if self.info.cpu == 'x32':
+                cpu = 'x32'
+            else:
+                cpu = '64'
+        else:
+            cpu = '32'
         if self.info.is_windows() or self.info.is_cygwin():
             plat = 'win'
             define = f'WIN{cpu}'
diff --git a/test cases/nasm/1 configure file/meson.build b/test cases/nasm/1 configure file/meson.build
index 46a704ceb..0abd15853 100644
--- a/test cases/nasm/1 configure file/meson.build	
+++ b/test cases/nasm/1 configure file/meson.build	
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ endif
 
 if host_machine.cpu_family() == 'x86'
   asm_format = 'elf32'
+elif host_machine.cpu() == 'x32'
+  asm_format = 'elfx32'
 else
   asm_format = 'elf64'
 endif