diff --git a/profiles/arch/base/use.mask b/profiles/arch/base/use.mask
index 4d595ccef0e7b..73148698c4295 100644
--- a/profiles/arch/base/use.mask
+++ b/profiles/arch/base/use.mask
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ cpu_flags_x86_xop
 # ppc arch specific USE flags
 altivec
 ppcsha1
+power8
 
 # mips arch specific USE flags
 fixed-point
diff --git a/profiles/arch/powerpc/use.mask b/profiles/arch/powerpc/use.mask
index d2f3cf581214b..d4a78b2dfd85b 100644
--- a/profiles/arch/powerpc/use.mask
+++ b/profiles/arch/powerpc/use.mask
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ klibc
 
 # These flags should only be used for ppc
 -ppcsha1
+-power8
 # Unmask the Altivec instruction set
 -altivec