diff --git a/libmetrics/linux/metrics.c b/libmetrics/linux/metrics.c
index 456abe339..b4a4c2bc1 100644
--- a/libmetrics/linux/metrics.c
+++ b/libmetrics/linux/metrics.c
@@ -633,6 +633,8 @@ machine_type_func ( void )
    snprintf(val.str, MAX_G_STRING_SIZE, "hppa");
 #elif __s390__
    snprintf(val.str, MAX_G_STRING_SIZE, "s390");
+#elif __PPC64__
+   snprintf(val.str, MAX_G_STRING_SIZE, "ppc64");
 #else
    snprintf(val.str, MAX_G_STRING_SIZE, "unknown");
 #endif