diff --git a/util/xcompile/xcompile b/util/xcompile/xcompile
index 7f44df64f2..635bcd6fbe 100755
--- a/util/xcompile/xcompile
+++ b/util/xcompile/xcompile
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ test_architecture() {
 		CLANG="clang -target ${clang_arch}-${TABI} -ccc-gcc-name ${GCC}"
 	fi
 
-	if [ -z "$GCC" -a -z "$CLANG" ]; then
+	if [ -z "$GCC" -a -z "$CLANG" -a "power8" != "$architecture" ]; then
 		echo "Warning: no suitable compiler for $architecture." >&2
 		return 1
 	fi