diff --git a/Lib/platform.py b/Lib/platform.py
index b7dbcca78aa..62553538566 100755
--- a/Lib/platform.py
+++ b/Lib/platform.py
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ def _dist_try_harder(distname,version,id):
 _supported_dists = (
     'SuSE', 'debian', 'fedora', 'redhat', 'centos',
     'mandrake', 'mandriva', 'rocks', 'slackware', 'yellowdog', 'gentoo',
-    'UnitedLinux', 'turbolinux')
+    'UnitedLinux', 'turbolinux', 'arch')
 
 def _parse_release_file(firstline):
 
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index da574b0bf21..98cb258f2bc 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ Core and Builtins
 Library
 -------
 
+- Issue #11678: Support Arch linux in the platform module.
+
 - Issue #15118: Change return value of os.uname() and os.times() from
   plain tuples to immutable iterable objects with named attributes
   (structseq objects).