diff --git a/rbc/irtools.py b/rbc/irtools.py
index 99ca5cce..471cd42a 100644
--- a/rbc/irtools.py
+++ b/rbc/irtools.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 import numba as nb
 from llvmlite import ir
 import llvmlite.binding as llvm
-from .utils import is_localhost
+from .utils import is_localhost, triple_matches
 
 
 def initialize_llvm():
@@ -61,16 +61,13 @@ def compile_to_LLVM(functions_and_signatures, target, server=None,
       LLVM module instance. To get the IR string, use `str(module)`.
 
     """
-    cpu_target = llvm.get_process_triple()
     if server is None or is_localhost(server.host):
-        if target == 'host' or target == cpu_target:
-            # FYI, there is also get_process_triple()
-            # triple = llvm.get_default_triple()
+        if triple_matches(target, 'host'):
             target_desc = nb.targets.registry.cpu_target
             typing_context = target_desc.typing_context
             target_context = target_desc.target_context
             use_host_target = False
-        elif target == 'cuda' or target == 'nvptx64-nvidia-cuda':
+        elif triple_matches(target, 'cuda'):
             if use_host_target:
                 triple = 'nvptx64-nvidia-cuda'
                 data_layout = nb.cuda.cudadrv.nvvm.data_layout[64]
@@ -81,7 +78,7 @@ def compile_to_LLVM(functions_and_signatures, target, server=None,
                 target_desc = nb.cuda.descriptor.CUDATargetDesc
                 typing_context = target_desc.typingctx
                 target_context = target_desc.targetctx
-        elif target == 'cuda32' or target == 'nvptx-nvidia-cuda':
+        elif triple_matches(target, 'cuda32'):
             if use_host_target:
                 triple = 'nvptx-nvidia-cuda'
                 data_layout = nb.cuda.cudadrv.nvvm.data_layout[32]
@@ -93,6 +90,7 @@ def compile_to_LLVM(functions_and_signatures, target, server=None,
                 typing_context = target_desc.typingctx
                 target_context = target_desc.targetctx
         else:
+            cpu_target = llvm.get_process_triple()
             raise NotImplementedError(repr((target, cpu_target)))
     else:
         raise NotImplementedError(repr((target, server)))
diff --git a/rbc/tests/test_utils.py b/rbc/tests/test_utils.py
index e71dd03e..4f5331d3 100644
--- a/rbc/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/rbc/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
-from rbc.utils import is_localhost, get_local_ip
+from rbc.utils import is_localhost, get_local_ip, triple_matches
 
 
 def test_is_localhost():
     assert is_localhost(get_local_ip())
+
+
+def test_triple_matches():
+    assert triple_matches('cuda', 'nvptx64-nvidia-cuda')
+    assert triple_matches('nvptx64-nvidia-cuda', 'cuda')
+    assert triple_matches('cuda32', 'nvptx-nvidia-cuda')
+    assert triple_matches('nvptx-nvidia-cuda', 'cuda32')
+    assert triple_matches('x86_64-pc-linux-gnu', 'x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu')
diff --git a/rbc/utils.py b/rbc/utils.py
index cde6fd4e..5ce9575a 100644
--- a/rbc/utils.py
+++ b/rbc/utils.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import netifaces
 import uuid
 import ctypes
+import llvmlite.binding as llvm
 
 
 def get_local_ip():
@@ -81,3 +82,34 @@ def get_datamodel():
         (16, 64, 64, 64, 64): 'ILP64',    # HAL
         (64, 64, 64, 64, 64): 'SILP64',   # UNICOS
     }[short_sizeof, int_sizeof, long_sizeof, ptr_sizeof, longlong_sizeof]
+
+
+def triple_split(triple):
+    """Split target triple into parts.
+    """
+    arch, vendor, os = triple.split('-', 2)
+    if '-' in os:
+        os, env = os.split('-', 1)
+    else:
+        env = ''
+    return arch, vendor, os, env
+
+
+def triple_matches(triple, other):
+    """Check if target triples match.
+    """
+    if triple == other:
+        return True
+    if triple == 'cuda':
+        return triple_matches('nvptx64-nvidia-cuda', other)
+    if triple == 'cuda32':
+        return triple_matches('nvptx-nvidia-cuda', other)
+    if triple == 'host':
+        return triple_matches(llvm.get_process_triple(), other)
+    if other in ['cuda', 'cuda32', 'host']:
+        return triple_matches(other, triple)
+    arch1, vendor1, os1, env1 = triple_split(triple)
+    arch2, vendor2, os2, env2 = triple_split(other)
+    if os1 == os2 == 'linux':
+        return (arch1, env1) == (arch2, env2)
+    return (arch1, vendor1, os1, env1) == (arch2, vendor2, os2, env2)