diff --git a/target-ppc/helper.c b/target-ppc/helper.c
index 689291ccb2..33e8b3ba5b 100644
--- a/target-ppc/helper.c
+++ b/target-ppc/helper.c
@@ -2903,6 +2903,8 @@ void cpu_ppc_reset (void *opaque)
 #endif
 #if defined(CONFIG_USER_ONLY)
     msr |= (target_ulong)1 << MSR_FP; /* Allow floating point usage */
+    msr |= (target_ulong)1 << MSR_VR; /* Allow altivec usage */
+    msr |= (target_ulong)1 << MSR_SPE; /* Allow SPE usage */
     msr |= (target_ulong)1 << MSR_PR;
     env->msr = msr & env->msr_mask;
 #else