diff --git a/target/ppc/machine.c b/target/ppc/machine.c
index 3d6434a006..ba1b9e531f 100644
--- a/target/ppc/machine.c
+++ b/target/ppc/machine.c
@@ -212,6 +212,11 @@ static int cpu_pre_save(void *opaque)
             ;
         cpu->mig_msr_mask = env->msr_mask & ~metamask;
         cpu->mig_insns_flags = env->insns_flags & insns_compat_mask;
+        /* CPU models supported by old machines all have PPC_MEM_TLBIE,
+         * so we set it unconditionally to allow backward migration from
+         * a POWER9 host to a POWER8 host.
+         */
+        cpu->mig_insns_flags |= PPC_MEM_TLBIE;
         cpu->mig_insns_flags2 = env->insns_flags2 & insns_compat_mask2;
         cpu->mig_nb_BATs = env->nb_BATs;
     }