diff --git a/package/gcc/Config.in.host b/package/gcc/Config.in.host
index 74999c800b..4aa6d3725f 100644
--- a/package/gcc/Config.in.host
+++ b/package/gcc/Config.in.host
@@ -25,9 +25,6 @@ config BR2_GCC_VERSION_8_X
 	depends on !BR2_ARCH_NEEDS_GCC_AT_LEAST_9
 	# Broken or unsupported architectures
 	depends on !BR2_or1k
-	# powerpc spe support has been deprecated since gcc 8.x.
-	# https://gcc.gnu.org/ml/gcc/2018-04/msg00102.html
-	depends on !BR2_powerpc_SPE
 	select BR2_TOOLCHAIN_GCC_AT_LEAST_8
 
 config BR2_GCC_VERSION_9_X
diff --git a/package/gcc/gcc.mk b/package/gcc/gcc.mk
index f372857916..beac27ede4 100644
--- a/package/gcc/gcc.mk
+++ b/package/gcc/gcc.mk
@@ -217,6 +217,7 @@ endif
 # Enable proper double/long double for SPE ABI
 ifeq ($(BR2_powerpc_SPE),y)
 HOST_GCC_COMMON_CONF_OPTS += \
+	--enable-obsolete \
 	--enable-e500_double \
 	--with-long-double-128
 endif