diff --git a/neo/CMakeLists.txt b/neo/CMakeLists.txt
index e1b6bb45..8c0ecdcc 100644
--- a/neo/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/neo/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -66,7 +66,11 @@ if (CMAKE_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR MATCHES "(x86)|(X86)|(amd64)|(AMD64)")
 	set(CPU_OPTIMIZATION "-mmmx -msse -msse2" CACHE STRING "Which CPU specific optimitations should be used beside the compiler's default?")
 endif()
 
-option(USE_INTRINSICS "Compile using intrinsics (e.g mmx, sse, msse2)" ON)
+if(CMAKE_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR MATCHES "(powerpc|ppc)64le")
+	option(USE_INTRINSICS "Compile using intrinsics (e.g mmx, sse, msse2)" OFF)
+else()
+	option(USE_INTRINSICS "Compile using intrinsics (e.g mmx, sse, msse2)" ON)
+endif()
 
 if(FFMPEG AND BINKDEC)
 	message(FATAL_ERROR "Only one of FFMPEG and BINKDEC (or neither) can be enabled at a time")
diff --git a/neo/idlib/sys/sys_defines.h b/neo/idlib/sys/sys_defines.h
index 71318f55..0326e544 100644
--- a/neo/idlib/sys/sys_defines.h
+++ b/neo/idlib/sys/sys_defines.h
@@ -113,6 +113,8 @@ If you have questions concerning this license or the applicable additional terms
 			#define CPUSTRING						"e2k"
 		#elif defined(__aarch64__) || defined(__ARM64__) || defined(_M_ARM64)
 			#define CPUSTRING 						"aarch64"
+		#elif defined(__powerpc64__)
+			#define CPUSTRING						"ppc64"
 		#else
 			#error unknown CPU
 		#endif