diff --git a/src/cmd/mk/archive.c b/src/cmd/mk/archive.c
index 5b0c1d00..6d646979 100644
--- a/src/cmd/mk/archive.c
+++ b/src/cmd/mk/archive.c
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 #include	"mk.h"
+#if defined(__AIX__)
+#define ARMAG	"<bigaf>\n"
+#else
 #define	ARMAG	"!<arch>\n"
+#endif
 #define	SARMAG	(sizeof(ARMAG) - sizeof(""))
 
 #define	ARFMAG	"`\n"