diff --git a/Lib/platform.py b/Lib/platform.py
index f856a43c046..8051041679b 100755
--- a/Lib/platform.py
+++ b/Lib/platform.py
@@ -777,7 +777,7 @@ def _mac_ver_xml():
     release = pl['ProductVersion']
     versioninfo=('', '', '')
     machine = os.uname()[4]
-    if machine == 'ppc':
+    if machine in ('ppc', 'Power Macintosh'):
         # for compatibility with the gestalt based code
         machine = 'PowerPC'