diff --git a/arch/powerpc/kvm/emulate.c b/arch/powerpc/kvm/emulate.c
index 4337f99fa0fa..b6df56dd93ba 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/kvm/emulate.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/kvm/emulate.c
@@ -77,7 +77,8 @@ static int kvmppc_dec_enabled(struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu)
 #else
 static int kvmppc_dec_enabled(struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu)
 {
-	return vcpu->arch.tcr & TCR_DIE;
+	/* On BOOKE, DEC = 0 is as good as decrementer not enabled */
+	return (vcpu->arch.tcr & TCR_DIE) && vcpu->arch.dec;
 }
 #endif