diff --git a/gdbstub.c b/gdbstub.c
index 2be19f0ca4..b4b8292dba 100644
--- a/gdbstub.c
+++ b/gdbstub.c
@@ -620,7 +620,17 @@ static int cpu_gdb_write_register(CPUState *env, uint8_t *mem_buf, int i)
 
 #elif defined (TARGET_PPC)
 
+/* Old gdb always expects FP registers.  Newer (xml-aware) gdb only
+   expects whatever the target description contains.  Due to a
+   historical mishap the FP registers appear in between core integer
+   regs and PC, MSR, CR, and so forth.  We hack round this by giving the
+   FP regs zero size when talking to a newer gdb.  */
 #define NUM_CORE_REGS 71
+#if defined (TARGET_PPC64)
+#define GDB_CORE_XML "power64-core.xml"
+#else
+#define GDB_CORE_XML "power-core.xml"
+#endif
 
 static int cpu_gdb_read_register(CPUState *env, uint8_t *mem_buf, int n)
 {
@@ -629,6 +639,8 @@ static int cpu_gdb_read_register(CPUState *env, uint8_t *mem_buf, int n)
         GET_REGL(env->gpr[n]);
     } else if (n < 64) {
         /* fprs */
+        if (gdb_has_xml)
+            return 0;
         stfq_p(mem_buf, env->fpr[n-32]);
         return 8;
     } else {
@@ -646,7 +658,12 @@ static int cpu_gdb_read_register(CPUState *env, uint8_t *mem_buf, int n)
         case 67: GET_REGL(env->lr);
         case 68: GET_REGL(env->ctr);
         case 69: GET_REGL(env->xer);
-        case 70: GET_REG32(0); /* fpscr */
+        case 70:
+            {
+                if (gdb_has_xml)
+                    return 0;
+                GET_REG32(0); /* fpscr */
+            }
         }
     }
     return 0;
@@ -660,6 +677,8 @@ static int cpu_gdb_write_register(CPUState *env, uint8_t *mem_buf, int n)
         return sizeof(target_ulong);
     } else if (n < 64) {
         /* fprs */
+        if (gdb_has_xml)
+            return 0;
         env->fpr[n-32] = ldfq_p(mem_buf);
         return 8;
     } else {
@@ -689,6 +708,8 @@ static int cpu_gdb_write_register(CPUState *env, uint8_t *mem_buf, int n)
             return sizeof(target_ulong);
         case 70:
             /* fpscr */
+            if (gdb_has_xml)
+                return 0;
             return 4;
         }
     }