diff --git a/cpu/mpc85xx/config.mk b/cpu/mpc85xx/config.mk
index beb3514e86..84651b87d8 100644
--- a/cpu/mpc85xx/config.mk
+++ b/cpu/mpc85xx/config.mk
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@
 PLATFORM_RELFLAGS += -fPIC -ffixed-r14 -meabi
 
 PLATFORM_CPPFLAGS += -ffixed-r2 -Wa,-me500 -msoft-float -mno-string
+
+# -mspe=yes is needed to have -mno-spe accepted by a buggy GCC;
+# see "[PATCH,rs6000] make -mno-spe work as expected" on
+# http://gcc.gnu.org/ml/gcc-patches/2008-04/msg00311.html
+PLATFORM_CPPFLAGS +=$(call cc-option,-mspe=yes)
 PLATFORM_CPPFLAGS +=$(call cc-option,-mno-spe)
 
 # Use default linker script.  Board port can override in board/*/config.mk