diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 63ef9a39..c481bb03 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -45,10 +45,12 @@ AC_SYS_LARGEFILE
 
 LT_INIT([win32-dll])
 
+AX_CHECK_COMPILE_FLAG([-maltivec],[flag_altivec="true"])
 AX_CHECK_COMPILE_FLAG([-mavx2],   [flag_avx2="true"])
 AX_CHECK_COMPILE_FLAG([-msse4.1], [flag_sse4_1="true"])
 AX_CHECK_COMPILE_FLAG([-msse2],   [flag_sse2="true"])
 
+AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_ALTIVEC], [test x"$flag_altivec" = x"true"])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_AVX2], [test x"$flag_avx2" = x"true"])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_SSE4_1], [test x"$flag_sse4_1" = x"true"])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_SSE2], [test x"$flag_sse2" = x"true"])
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 5e884401..55d6d115 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -197,9 +197,13 @@ libsse41_la_SOURCES = \
 	strategies/sse41/picture-sse41.h
 
 if HAVE_PPC
+
+if HAVE_ALTIVEC
 libaltivec_la_CFLAGS = -maltivec
 endif
 
+endif #HAVE_PPC
+
 if HAVE_X86
 
 if HAVE_AVX2