diff --git a/build-soft-latest.sh b/build-soft-latest.sh
index 8834f60..efa5f6c 100755
--- a/build-soft-latest.sh
+++ b/build-soft-latest.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,12 @@ CHECKOUT=0
 ROOTDIR="$HOME/astro-soft"
 
 JOBS=$(grep -c ^processor /proc/cpuinfo)
+# 64 bit systems need more memory for compilation
+if [ $(getconf LONG_BIT) -eq 64 ] && [ $(grep MemTotal < /proc/meminfo | cut -f 2 -d ':' | sed s/kB//) -lt 5000000 ]
+then
+	echo "Low memory limiting to JOBS=2"
+	JOBS=2
+fi
 
 [ ! -d "$ROOTDIR" ] && mkdir $ROOTDIR
 cd "$ROOTDIR"
diff --git a/build-soft-stable.sh b/build-soft-stable.sh
index 7083f9d..9223ed8 100755
--- a/build-soft-stable.sh
+++ b/build-soft-stable.sh
@@ -12,6 +12,13 @@ ROOTDIR="$HOME/astro-soft-stable"
 
 JOBS=$(grep -c ^processor /proc/cpuinfo)
 
+# 64 bit systems need more memory for compilation
+if [ $(getconf LONG_BIT) -eq 64 ] && [ $(grep MemTotal < /proc/meminfo | cut -f 2 -d ':' | sed s/kB//) -lt 5000000 ]
+then
+	echo "Low memory limiting to JOBS=2"
+	JOBS=2
+fi
+
 [ ! -d "$ROOTDIR" ] && mkdir $ROOTDIR
 cd "$ROOTDIR"