--- configure.in
+++ configure.in
@@ -293,6 +293,7 @@
 	MACHDEP="$ac_md_system$ac_md_release"
 
 	case $MACHDEP in
+	linux*) MACHDEP="linux2";;
 	cygwin*) MACHDEP="cygwin";;
 	darwin*) MACHDEP="darwin";;
 	atheos*) MACHDEP="atheos";;
--- Misc/NEWS
+++ Misc/NEWS
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 Python News
 +++++++++++
 
+- Issue #12326: sys.platform is now always 'linux2' on Linux, even if Python
+  is compiled on Linux 3.
 
 What's New in Python 2.7.2?
 ===========================