diff --git a/gnu/packages/cross-base.scm b/gnu/packages/cross-base.scm
index e6553dcd34..da2efc3642 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/cross-base.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/cross-base.scm
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ GCC that does not target a libc; otherwise, target that libc."
               (setenv "ARCH" ,(system->linux-architecture target))
               (format #t "`ARCH' set to `~a' (cross compiling)~%" (getenv "ARCH"))
 
-              (and (zero? (system* "make" "defconfig"))
+              (and (zero? (system* "make" ,(system->defconfig target)))
                    (zero? (system* "make" "mrproper" "headers_check"))))
             ,phases))))
       (native-inputs `(("cross-gcc" ,xgcc)
diff --git a/gnu/packages/linux.scm b/gnu/packages/linux.scm
index a040aeb768..a0d86bb40e 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/linux.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/linux.scm
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 ;;; Copyright © 2016 John Darrington <jmd@gnu.org>
 ;;; Copyright © 2016 Marius Bakke <mbakke@fastmail.com>
 ;;; Copyright © 2016 Rene Saavedra <rennes@openmailbox.org>
+;;; Copyright © 2016 Carlos Sánchez de La Lama <csanchezdll@gmail.com>
 ;;;
 ;;; This file is part of GNU Guix.
 ;;;
@@ -98,6 +99,13 @@
           ((string-prefix? "aarch64" arch) "arm64")
           (else arch))))
 
+(define-public (system->defconfig system)
+  "Some systems (notably powerpc-linux) require a special target for kernel
+defconfig.  Return the appropiate make target if applicable, otherwise return
+\"defconfig\"."
+  (cond ((string-prefix? "powerpc-" system) "pmac32_defconfig")
+        (else "defconfig")))
+
 (define (linux-libre-urls version)
   "Return a list of URLs for Linux-Libre VERSION."
   (list (string-append
@@ -137,11 +145,13 @@
            (lambda _
              (let ((arch ,(system->linux-architecture
                           (or (%current-target-system)
-                              (%current-system)))))
+                              (%current-system))))
+                   (defconfig ,(system->defconfig
+                                (or (%current-target-system)
+                                    (%current-system)))))
                (setenv "ARCH" arch)
                (format #t "`ARCH' set to `~a'~%" (getenv "ARCH"))
-
-               (and (zero? (system* "make" "defconfig"))
+               (and (zero? (system* "make" defconfig))
                     (zero? (system* "make" "mrproper" "headers_check"))))))
          (replace 'install
            (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)