diff --git a/configs/qemu_ppc64_e5500_defconfig b/configs/qemu_ppc64_e5500_defconfig
index 8458f2739a..6ad03c4c87 100644
--- a/configs/qemu_ppc64_e5500_defconfig
+++ b/configs/qemu_ppc64_e5500_defconfig
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ BR2_powerpc64=y
 BR2_powerpc_e5500=y
 
 # System
-BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_2_36_X=y
+BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_2_38_X=y
 BR2_SYSTEM_DHCP="eth0"
 BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_GETTY_PORT="ttyS0"
 
diff --git a/configs/qemu_ppc64_pseries_defconfig b/configs/qemu_ppc64_pseries_defconfig
index 480ebea29d..50844dc93b 100644
--- a/configs/qemu_ppc64_pseries_defconfig
+++ b/configs/qemu_ppc64_pseries_defconfig
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ BR2_powerpc64=y
 BR2_powerpc_power7=y
 
 # System
-BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_2_36_X=y
+BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_2_38_X=y
 BR2_SYSTEM_DHCP="eth0"
 BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_GETTY_PORT="hvc0"
 
diff --git a/configs/qemu_ppc64le_powernv8_defconfig b/configs/qemu_ppc64le_powernv8_defconfig
index 8de4cf5189..f6a5c3d409 100644
--- a/configs/qemu_ppc64le_powernv8_defconfig
+++ b/configs/qemu_ppc64le_powernv8_defconfig
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ BR2_powerpc64le=y
 BR2_powerpc_power8=y
 
 # System
-BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_2_36_X=y
+BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_2_38_X=y
 BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_GETTY_PORT="hvc0"
 BR2_SYSTEM_DHCP="eth0"
 
diff --git a/configs/qemu_ppc64le_pseries_defconfig b/configs/qemu_ppc64le_pseries_defconfig
index 98c6afdf93..7ce5a9d310 100644
--- a/configs/qemu_ppc64le_pseries_defconfig
+++ b/configs/qemu_ppc64le_pseries_defconfig
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ BR2_powerpc64le=y
 BR2_powerpc_power8=y
 
 # System
-BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_2_36_X=y
+BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_2_38_X=y
 BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_GETTY_PORT="hvc0"
 BR2_SYSTEM_DHCP="eth0"