diff --git a/roles/matrix-sygnal/tasks/validate_config.yml b/roles/matrix-sygnal/tasks/validate_config.yml
index 1cf8357e..efd64104 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-sygnal/tasks/validate_config.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-sygnal/tasks/validate_config.yml
@@ -3,3 +3,11 @@
     msg: >-
       Enabling Sygnal requires that you specify at least one app in `matrix_sygnal_apps`
   when: "matrix_sygnal_enabled and matrix_sygnal_apps|length == 0"
+
+- name: Fail if running on a non-supported architecture
+  fail:
+    msg: >-
+      Sygnal can only be used on the amd64 architecture for now.
+      Only amd64 container images are pushed for the `docker.io/matrixdotorg/sygnal` container image.
+      Either use a different image (by redefining `matrix_sygnal_docker_image`) or consider contributing self-building support to this role.
+  when: "matrix_sygnal_enabled and matrix_architecture != 'amd64' and matrix_sygnal_docker_image.startswith('docker.io/matrixdotorg/sygnal')"