diff --git a/perl-xCAT-2.0/xCAT/PPCcli.pm b/perl-xCAT-2.0/xCAT/PPCcli.pm
index 0d9582008..8984a9fe6 100644
--- a/perl-xCAT-2.0/xCAT/PPCcli.pm
+++ b/perl-xCAT-2.0/xCAT/PPCcli.pm
@@ -676,6 +676,14 @@ sub lshmc {
     my @values;
     my $vpd = join( ",", @$result );
 
+    #####################################
+    # Power4 (and below) HMCs unsupported
+    #####################################
+    if ( $vpd =~ /\*RM V(\d+)/ ) {
+        if ( $1 <= 5 ) {
+            return( [RC_ERROR,"Command not supported on V$1 HMC"] );
+        }
+    }
     #####################################
     # Type-Model may be in the formats:
     #  "eserver xSeries 336 -[7310CR3]-"