diff --git a/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/idea/StartupUtil.java b/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/idea/StartupUtil.java
index 01e01ba72d9f..016399078e91 100644
--- a/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/idea/StartupUtil.java
+++ b/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/idea/StartupUtil.java
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ import java.util.List;
 public class StartupUtil {
   @NonNls public static final String NO_SPLASH = "nosplash";
 
-  public static final boolean NO_SNAPPY = SystemProperties.getBooleanProperty("idea.no.snappy", false);
+  public static final boolean NO_SNAPPY = SystemProperties.getBooleanProperty("idea.no.snappy", false) ||
+                                          SystemInfo.isMac && SystemInfo.is32Bit;  // todo[maxim] drop once available
 
   static boolean isHeadless;