diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/arch.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/arch.py
index 29b35000f08..e6633f186ca 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/arch.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/arch.py
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@
 
 
 def setup_parser(subparser):
+    subparser.add_argument(
+        '-g', '--generic-target', action='store_true',
+        help='show the best generic target'
+    )
     subparser.add_argument(
         '--known-targets', action='store_true',
         help='show a list of all known targets and exit'
@@ -74,6 +78,10 @@ def display_target_group(header, target_group):
 
 
 def arch(parser, args):
+    if args.generic_target:
+        print(archspec.cpu.host().generic)
+        return
+
     if args.known_targets:
         display_targets(archspec.cpu.TARGETS)
         return
diff --git a/share/spack/spack-completion.bash b/share/spack/spack-completion.bash
index a5610f58720..90bb79a66a0 100755
--- a/share/spack/spack-completion.bash
+++ b/share/spack/spack-completion.bash
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ _spack_analyze_run() {
 }
 
 _spack_arch() {
-    SPACK_COMPREPLY="-h --help --known-targets -p --platform -o --operating-system -t --target -f --frontend -b --backend"
+    SPACK_COMPREPLY="-h --help -g --generic-target --known-targets -p --platform -o --operating-system -t --target -f --frontend -b --backend"
 }
 
 _spack_audit() {