diff --git a/messaging/messaging_pyx_setup.py b/messaging/messaging_pyx_setup.py
index a763d89f862586..f5962d0c2b2310 100644
--- a/messaging/messaging_pyx_setup.py
+++ b/messaging/messaging_pyx_setup.py
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ def get_ext_filename(self, ext_name):
 libraries = ['zmq']
 ARCH = subprocess.check_output(["uname", "-m"], encoding='utf8').rstrip()  # pylint: disable=unexpected-keyword-arg
 
-if ARCH == "aarch64":
+if ARCH == "aarch64" and os.path.isdir("/system"):
+  # android
   extra_compile_args += ["-Wno-deprecated-register"]
   libraries += ['gnustl_shared']