diff --git a/srcpkgs/octave/template b/srcpkgs/octave/template
index faac10a9818..8a92ed68d53 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/octave/template
+++ b/srcpkgs/octave/template
@@ -73,6 +73,11 @@ makedepends+="
 	$(vopt_if qhull libqhull-devel)
 	$(vopt_if zlib zlib-devel)"
 
+case "$XBPS_TARGET_MACHINE" in
+	ppc64*) ;;
+	ppc*) broken="fails to configure";;
+esac
+
 pre_build() {
 	chmod +x build-aux/mk-opts.pl
 }