diff --git a/usr/share/rear/conf/Linux-ppc64.conf b/usr/share/rear/conf/Linux-ppc64.conf
index 71fa8fa3..85924971 100644
--- a/usr/share/rear/conf/Linux-ppc64.conf
+++ b/usr/share/rear/conf/Linux-ppc64.conf
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 REQUIRED_PROGS=(
 "${REQUIRED_PROGS[@]}"
 sfdisk
+ofpathname
 )
 
 PROGS=(
@@ -9,14 +10,22 @@ mkofboot
 ofpath
 ybin
 yabootconfig
-bootlist
 pseries_platform
 nvram
-ofpathname
 bc
 agetty
 )
 
+if grep -q "emulated by qemu" /proc/cpuinfo ; then
+    # Qemu/KVM virtual machines don't need bootlist - don't complain if
+    # it is missing
+    PROGS+=( bootlist )
+else
+    # PowerVM environment, we need to run bootlist, otherwise
+    # we can't make the system bpotable. Be strict about requiring it
+    REQUIRED_PROGS+=( bootlist )
+fi
+
 COPY_AS_IS=(
 "${COPY_AS_IS[@]}"
 /usr/lib/yaboot/yaboot
diff --git a/usr/share/rear/conf/Linux-ppc64le.conf b/usr/share/rear/conf/Linux-ppc64le.conf
index 2ea82b85..52c15e75 100644
--- a/usr/share/rear/conf/Linux-ppc64le.conf
+++ b/usr/share/rear/conf/Linux-ppc64le.conf
@@ -5,10 +5,8 @@ sfdisk
 
 PROGS=(
 "${PROGS[@]}"
-bootlist
 pseries_platform
 nvram
-ofpathname
 bc
 agetty
 )
@@ -21,4 +19,18 @@ agetty
 if [[ $(awk '/platform/ {print $NF}' < /proc/cpuinfo) != PowerNV ]] ; then
     # No firmware files when ppc64le Linux is not run in BareMetal Mode (PowerNV):
     test "${FIRMWARE_FILES[*]}" || FIRMWARE_FILES=( 'no' )
+    # grub2-install for powerpc-ieee1275 calls ofpathname, so without it,
+    # the rescue system can't make the recovered system bootable
+    REQUIRED_PROGS+=( ofpathname )
+    if grep -q "emulated by qemu" /proc/cpuinfo ; then
+        # Qemu/KVM virtual machines don't need bootlist - don't complain if
+        # it is missing
+        PROGS+=( bootlist )
+    else
+        # PowerVM environment, we need to run bootlist, otherwise
+        # we can't make the system bpotable. Be strict about requiring it
+        REQUIRED_PROGS+=( bootlist )
+    fi
+else
+    PROGS+=( ofpathname bootlist )
 fi