diff --git a/configs/qemu_ppc64_e5500_defconfig b/configs/qemu_ppc64_e5500_defconfig
index 072240c99c..c455fcffe4 100644
--- a/configs/qemu_ppc64_e5500_defconfig
+++ b/configs/qemu_ppc64_e5500_defconfig
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ BR2_powerpc64=y
 BR2_powerpc_e5500=y
 
 # System
+BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_2_36_X=y
 BR2_SYSTEM_DHCP="eth0"
 BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_GETTY_PORT="ttyS0"
 
diff --git a/configs/qemu_ppc64_pseries_defconfig b/configs/qemu_ppc64_pseries_defconfig
index ad523ec2ef..efa8106ff1 100644
--- a/configs/qemu_ppc64_pseries_defconfig
+++ b/configs/qemu_ppc64_pseries_defconfig
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ BR2_powerpc64=y
 BR2_powerpc_power7=y
 
 # System
+BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_2_36_X=y
 BR2_SYSTEM_DHCP="eth0"
 BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_GETTY_PORT="hvc0"
 
diff --git a/configs/qemu_ppc64le_powernv8_defconfig b/configs/qemu_ppc64le_powernv8_defconfig
index a784695ddf..773ee4023f 100644
--- a/configs/qemu_ppc64le_powernv8_defconfig
+++ b/configs/qemu_ppc64le_powernv8_defconfig
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ BR2_powerpc64le=y
 BR2_powerpc_power8=y
 
 # System
+BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_2_36_X=y
 BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_GETTY_PORT="hvc0"
 BR2_SYSTEM_DHCP="eth0"
 
diff --git a/configs/qemu_ppc64le_pseries_defconfig b/configs/qemu_ppc64le_pseries_defconfig
index f10b0fdf40..8a20f58f1e 100644
--- a/configs/qemu_ppc64le_pseries_defconfig
+++ b/configs/qemu_ppc64le_pseries_defconfig
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ BR2_powerpc64le=y
 BR2_powerpc_power8=y
 
 # System
+BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_2_36_X=y
 BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_GETTY_PORT="hvc0"
 BR2_SYSTEM_DHCP="eth0"