diff --git a/xCAT-server/lib/xcat/plugins/anaconda.pm b/xCAT-server/lib/xcat/plugins/anaconda.pm
index 2890def8e..100a33a6a 100644
--- a/xCAT-server/lib/xcat/plugins/anaconda.pm
+++ b/xCAT-server/lib/xcat/plugins/anaconda.pm
@@ -633,6 +633,9 @@ sub mknetboot
         } elsif ($reshash->{$node}->[0] and $reshash->{$node}->[0]->{primarynic} and $reshash->{$node}->[0]->{primarynic} ne "mac") {
             $useifname=1;
             $kcmdline .= "ifname=".$reshash->{$node}->[0]->{primarynic}.":";
+        }elsif($osver =~ /^rhels5/ and $arch=~/^ppc/){
+	    #for rhels5-ppc, is we specify installnic="mac",boot device cannot be found during netboot
+            $useifname=1;
         }
         #else { #no, we autodetect and don't presume anything
         #    $kcmdline .="eth0:";