diff --git a/configs/qemu_ppc_mac99_defconfig b/configs/qemu_ppc_mac99_defconfig
index 4a7c7ce599..496b0fb2a4 100644
--- a/configs/qemu_ppc_mac99_defconfig
+++ b/configs/qemu_ppc_mac99_defconfig
@@ -24,3 +24,7 @@ BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_GETTY_PORT="ttyS0"
 BR2_TARGET_ROOTFS_CPIO=y
 BR2_TARGET_ROOTFS_EXT2=y
 # BR2_TARGET_ROOTFS_TAR is not set
+
+# host-qemu for gitlab testing
+BR2_PACKAGE_HOST_QEMU=y
+BR2_PACKAGE_HOST_QEMU_SYSTEM_MODE=y