diff --git a/config.nmake b/config.nmake
index 7405cbc24b..db71cb3370 100644
--- a/config.nmake
+++ b/config.nmake
@@ -55,21 +55,23 @@ TOOLS_DIR=tools
 # TARGET_MACHINE (Used for link /MACHINE) should be one of "X86" or "X64"
 # (sorry ARM, Alpha, MIPS, and Itanium fans).
 # CPU (Used by win32.mak) should be one of "i386" or "AMD64".
+# PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE (Used for redistributable packages and
+# manifests) should be one of "x86" or "amd64".
 !if "$(WIRESHARK_TARGET_PLATFORM)" == "win32"
 TARGET_MACHINE=x86
 CPU=i386
-VCREDIST_DLL=x86
+PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE=x86
 !else if "$(WIRESHARK_TARGET_PLATFORM)" == "win64"
 TARGET_MACHINE=x64
 CPU=AMD64
-VCREDIST_DLL=amd64
+PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE=amd64
 !else
 !error Your mysterious moon-man architecture "$(WIRESHARK_TARGET_PLATFORM)" frightens and confuses us.
 !endif
 
 
 ##### Microsoft Visual C / Studio Variant #####
-# for the different Studios, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Visual_Studio
+# For the different Studios, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Visual_Studio
 # only one of the following MSVC_VARIANT settings should be used
 # BTW: The "Microsoft Visual C++ Toolkit 2003" DOESN'T WORK for WS!
 
@@ -111,7 +113,7 @@ VCREDIST_DLL=amd64
 
 # "Microsoft Visual Studio 2008"
 # Visual C++ 9.0, _MSC_VER 1500, msvcr90.dll
-MSVC_VARIANT=MSVC2008
+#MSVC_VARIANT=MSVC2008
 
 # "Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Express Edition"
 # Visual C++ 9.0, _MSC_VER 1500, msvcr90.dll
@@ -125,6 +127,12 @@ MSVC_VARIANT=MSVC2008
 # Visual C++ 10.0, _MSC_VER 1600, msvcr100.dll
 #MSVC_VARIANT=MSVC2010EE
 
+# The default if we haven't set a system environment variable or
+# uncommented an entry above.
+!IFNDEF MSVC_VARIANT
+MSVC_VARIANT=MSVC2008
+!ENDIF
+
 #
 # Optional: To compile some time critical code from assembler instead of C
 #
@@ -863,7 +871,7 @@ MSVCR_DLL=$(PROGRAM_FILES)\Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003\Visual Studio .NET
 # no redistributable available for this package!
 
 !ELSEIF "$(MSVC_VARIANT)" == "MSVC2005"
-MSVCR_DLL=$(PROGRAM_FILES)\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\redist\$(VCREDIST_DLL)\Microsoft.VC80.CRT\*.*
+MSVCR_DLL=$(PROGRAM_FILES)\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\redist\$(PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE)\Microsoft.VC80.CRT\*.*
 
 !ELSEIF "$(MSVC_VARIANT)" == "MSVC2005EE" || "$(MSVC_VARIANT)" == "DOTNET20" || "$(MSVC_VARIANT)" == "MSVC2008EE"
 # you need to download the redistributable package vcredist_x86.exe from Microsoft first,
@@ -871,7 +879,7 @@ MSVCR_DLL=$(PROGRAM_FILES)\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\redist\$(VCREDIST_DLL)\M
 VCREDIST_EXE=$(WIRESHARK_LIBS)\vcredist_$(TARGET_MACHINE).exe
 
 !ELSEIF "$(MSVC_VARIANT)" == "MSVC2008"
-MSVCR_DLL=$(PROGRAM_FILES)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\redist\$(VCREDIST_DLL)\Microsoft.VC90.CRT\*.*
+MSVCR_DLL=$(PROGRAM_FILES)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\redist\$(PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE)\Microsoft.VC90.CRT\*.*
 
 !ELSEIF "$(MSVC_VARIANT)" == "MSVC2010EE"
 # you need to download the redistributable package vcredist_x86.exe from Microsoft first,
diff --git a/image/Makefile.nmake b/image/Makefile.nmake
index e0b929fdc8..adddb9a1c0 100644
--- a/image/Makefile.nmake
+++ b/image/Makefile.nmake
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ wireshark.exe.manifest: wireshark.exe.manifest.in ..\config.nmake
 	sed -e s/@VERSION_MAJOR@/$(VERSION_MAJOR)/ \
 		-e s/@VERSION_MINOR@/$(VERSION_MINOR)/ \
 		-e s/@VERSION_MICRO@/$(VERSION_MICRO)/ \
+		-e s/@PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE@/$(PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE)/ \
 		< wireshark.exe.manifest.in > $@
 
 wireshark.rc   : file_dlg_win32.rc wireshark.rc.in wireshark.exe.manifest ..\config.nmake
diff --git a/image/wireshark.exe.manifest.in b/image/wireshark.exe.manifest.in
index 5968ede549..357dc47b97 100644
--- a/image/wireshark.exe.manifest.in
+++ b/image/wireshark.exe.manifest.in
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 <assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
   <assemblyIdentity
     version="@VERSION_MAJOR@.@VERSION_MINOR@.@VERSION_MICRO@.0"
-    processorArchitecture="X86"
+    processorArchitecture="@PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE@"
     name="WiresharkDevelopmentTeam.Wireshark"
     type="win32"
   />
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
         type="win32"
         name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls"
         version="6.0.0.0"
-        processorArchitecture="X86"
+        processorArchitecture="@PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE@"
         publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df"
         language="*"
       />