diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
index 4b906f8c5f42..5a7f43fbae1f 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
@@ -22152,7 +22152,11 @@ with pkgs;
   prospector = callPackage ../development/tools/prospector { };
 
   # https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/issues/10418
-  protobuf = if stdenv.hostPlatform.is32bit then protobuf3_20 else
+  # protobuf versions have to match between build-time and run-time
+  # Using "targetPlatform" in the check makes sure that the version of
+  # pkgsCross.armv7l-hf-multiplatform.buildPackages.protobuf matches the
+  # version of pkgsCross.armv7l-hf-multiplatform.protobuf
+  protobuf = if stdenv.targetPlatform.is32bit then protobuf3_20 else
     protobuf3_21;
 
   protobuf3_21 = callPackage ../development/libraries/protobuf/3.21.nix { };