diff --git a/_resources/port1.0/group/mpi-1.0.tcl b/_resources/port1.0/group/mpi-1.0.tcl
index 5e72ae12b4b26..83e829bfdab46 100644
--- a/_resources/port1.0/group/mpi-1.0.tcl
+++ b/_resources/port1.0/group/mpi-1.0.tcl
@@ -56,12 +56,17 @@ foreach mpiname [array names mpidb *,variant] {
 unset mpiname
 
 proc mpi.get_default_mpi_compiler {} {
+    global os.arch
     # No MPI variant has been selected.
     # Attempt to select the MPI port that is consistent with the compiler being used.
     lassign [split [option configure.compiler] "-"] ismacports type ver
     if {${ismacports} ne "macports"} {
         # system compiler is being used, so use {mpich,openmpi}-default
         return {mp default}
+    } elseif {${os.arch} eq "powerpc"} {
+        # MPI never uses Xcode gcc and there is no clang.
+        # Avoid unnecessary zoo of mpich versions.
+        return {mp default}
     } else {
         # macports compiler is being used, so use the corresponding MPI port
         set mpiver [join [split ${ver} "."] ""]