diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 863e33b529..d59f5e45ac 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -276,6 +276,8 @@ Advanced options (experts only):
 Optimization options (experts only):
   --disable-asm            disable all assembly optimizations
   --disable-altivec        disable AltiVec optimizations
+  --disable-vsx            disable VSX optimizations
+  --disable-power8         disable POWER8 optimizations
   --disable-amd3dnow       disable 3DNow! optimizations
   --disable-amd3dnowext    disable 3DNow! extended optimizations
   --disable-mmx            disable MMX optimizations
@@ -1339,7 +1341,9 @@ ARCH_EXT_LIST_PPC="
     altivec
     dcbzl
     ldbrx
+    power8
     ppc4xx
+    vsx
 "
 
 ARCH_EXT_LIST_X86="
@@ -1709,6 +1713,8 @@ map 'eval ${v}_inline_deps=inline_asm' $ARCH_EXT_LIST_ARM
 
 altivec_deps="ppc"
 ppc4xx_deps="ppc"
+vsx_deps="altivec"
+power8_deps="vsx"
 
 cpunop_deps="i686"
 x86_64_select="i686"
@@ -3323,19 +3329,28 @@ elif enabled ppc; then
         ;;
         g4|745*|ppc745*|powerpc745*)
             cpuflags="-mcpu=7450"
+            disable vsx
         ;;
         74*|ppc74*|powerpc74*)
             cpuflags="-mcpu=7400"
+            disable vsx
         ;;
         g5|970|ppc970|powerpc970)
             cpuflags="-mcpu=970"
+            disable vsx
         ;;
-        power[3-7]*)
+        power[3-6]*)
             cpuflags="-mcpu=$cpu"
+            disable vsx
+        ;;
+        power[7-8]*)
+            cpuflags="-mcpu=$cpu"
+            enable ldbrx
         ;;
         cell)
             cpuflags="-mcpu=cell"
             enable ldbrx
+            disable vsx
         ;;
         e500mc)
             cpuflags="-mcpu=e500mc"
@@ -4012,6 +4027,15 @@ EOF
         enabled altivec || warn "Altivec disabled, possibly missing --cpu flag"
     fi
 
+    if enabled vsx; then
+        check_cflags -mvsx &&
+        check_builtin vec_vsx_ld "altivec.h" "__builtin_vec_vsx_ld" || disable vsx
+    fi
+
+    if enabled power8; then
+        check_cpp_condition "altivec.h" "defined(_ARCH_PWR8)" || disable power8
+    fi
+
 elif enabled x86; then
 
     check_builtin rdtsc    intrin.h   "__rdtsc()"
@@ -4706,6 +4730,8 @@ if enabled arm; then
 fi
 if enabled ppc; then
     echo "AltiVec enabled           ${altivec-no}"
+    echo "VSX enabled               ${vsx-no}"
+    echo "POWER8 enabled            ${power8-no}"
     echo "PPC 4xx optimizations     ${ppc4xx-no}"
     echo "dcbzl available           ${dcbzl-no}"
 fi