diff --git a/rpmUtils/arch.py b/rpmUtils/arch.py
index fb59ad4..e3a036e 100644
--- a/rpmUtils/arch.py
+++ b/rpmUtils/arch.py
@@ -88,7 +88,25 @@ def legitMultiArchesInSameLib(arch=None):
     return results        
 
 
-
+def canCoinstall(arch1, arch2):
+    """Take two arches and return True if it is possible that they can be
+       installed together with the same nevr. Ex: arch1=i386 and arch2=i686 then
+       it will return False. arch1=i386 and arch2=x86_64 will return True.
+       It does not determine whether or not the arches make any sense. Just whether
+       they could possibly install w/o conflict"""
+
+    # if both are a multlibarch then we can't coinstall  (x86_64, ia32e)
+    # if both are not multilibarches then we can't coinstall (i386, i686)
+    
+    if 'noarch' in [arch1, arch2]: # noarch can never coinstall
+        return False
+
+    if isMultiLibArch(arch=arch1) == isMultiLibArch(arch=arch2):
+        return False
+    # this section keeps arch1=x86_64 arch2=ppc from returning True
+    if arch1 in getArchList(arch2) or arch2 in getArchList(arch1):
+        return True
+    return False
 
 # this computes the difference between myarch and targetarch
 def archDifference(myarch, targetarch):
diff --git a/yum/depsolve.py b/yum/depsolve.py
index 9024957..26fb2c2 100644
--- a/yum/depsolve.py
+++ b/yum/depsolve.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import logging
 import rpmUtils.transaction
 import rpmUtils.miscutils
 import rpmUtils.arch
-from rpmUtils.arch import archDifference, isMultiLibArch, getBestArch
+from rpmUtils.arch import archDifference, isMultiLibArch, getBestArch, canCoinstall
 import misc
 from misc import unique, version_tuple_to_string
 import rpm
@@ -489,20 +489,21 @@ class Depsolve(object):
             tspkgs = []
             if not self.allowedMultipleInstalls(pkg):
                 # from ts
-                tspkgs = self.tsInfo.matchNaevr(name=pkg.name, arch=pkg.arch)
+                tspkgs = self.tsInfo.matchNaevr(name=pkg.name)
                 for tspkg in tspkgs:
-                    if tspkg.po.verGT(pkg):
-                        msg = _('Potential resolving package %s has newer instance in ts.') % pkg
-                        self.verbose_logger.log(logginglevels.DEBUG_2, msg)
-                        provSack.delPackage(pkg)
-                        continue
-                    elif tspkg.po.verLT(pkg):
-                        upgraded.setdefault(pkg.pkgtup, []).append(tspkg.pkgtup)
+                    if not canCoinstall(pkg.arch, tspkg.po.arch): # a comparable arch
+                        if tspkg.po.verGT(pkg):
+                            msg = _('Potential resolving package %s has newer instance in ts.') % pkg
+                            self.verbose_logger.log(logginglevels.DEBUG_2, msg)
+                            provSack.delPackage(pkg)
+                            continue
+                        elif tspkg.po.verLT(pkg):
+                            upgraded.setdefault(pkg.pkgtup, []).append(tspkg.pkgtup)
                 
                 # from rpmdb
-                dbpkgs = self.rpmdb.searchNevra(name=pkg.name, arch=pkg.arch)
+                dbpkgs = self.rpmdb.searchNevra(name=pkg.name)
                 for dbpkg in dbpkgs:
-                    if dbpkg.verGT(pkg):
+                    if dbpkg.verGT(pkg) and not canCoinstall(pkg.arch, tspkg.arch):
                         msg = _('Potential resolving package %s has newer instance installed.') % pkg
                         self.verbose_logger.log(logginglevels.DEBUG_2, msg)
                         provSack.delPackage(pkg)