diff --git a/cpu-all.h b/cpu-all.h
index ebe8bfbadb..e21437499e 100644
--- a/cpu-all.h
+++ b/cpu-all.h
@@ -1017,24 +1017,33 @@ static inline int64_t cpu_get_real_ticks (void)
 #endif
 }
 
-#elif defined(__mips__)
+#elif (defined(__mips_isa_rev) && __mips_isa_rev >= 2) || defined(__linux__)
+/*
+ * binutils wants to use rdhwr only on mips32r2
+ * but as linux kernel emulate it, it's fine
+ * to use it.
+ *
+ */
+#define MIPS_RDHWR(rd, value) {                 \
+    __asm__ __volatile__ (                      \
+                          ".set   push\n\t"     \
+                          ".set mips32r2\n\t"   \
+                          "rdhwr  %0, "rd"\n\t" \
+                          ".set   pop"          \
+                          : "=r" (value));      \
+}
 
 static inline int64_t cpu_get_real_ticks(void)
 {
-#if defined(__mips_isa_rev) && __mips_isa_rev >= 2
+/* On kernels >= 2.6.25 rdhwr <reg>, $2 and $3 are emulated */
     uint32_t count;
     static uint32_t cyc_per_count = 0;
 
     if (!cyc_per_count)
-        __asm__ __volatile__("rdhwr %0, $3" : "=r" (cyc_per_count));
+        MIPS_RDHWR("$3", cyc_per_count);
 
-    __asm__ __volatile__("rdhwr %1, $2" : "=r" (count));
+    MIPS_RDHWR("$2", count);
     return (int64_t)(count * cyc_per_count);
-#else
-    /* FIXME */
-    static int64_t ticks = 0;
-    return ticks++;
-#endif
 }
 
 #else