--- a/src/hotspot/cpu/ppc/vm_version_ppc.cpp	Wed Dec 12 13:28:50 2018 +0100
+++ b/src/hotspot/cpu/ppc/vm_version_ppc.cpp	Tue Dec 11 20:31:18 2018 -0500
@@ -134,11 +134,18 @@
     if (FLAG_IS_DEFAULT(UseCountTrailingZerosInstructionsPPC64)) {
       FLAG_SET_ERGO(bool, UseCountTrailingZerosInstructionsPPC64, true);
     }
+    if (FLAG_IS_DEFAULT(UseCharacterCompareIntrinsics)) {
+      FLAG_SET_ERGO(bool, UseCharacterCompareIntrinsics, true);
+    }
   } else {
     if (UseCountTrailingZerosInstructionsPPC64) {
       warning("UseCountTrailingZerosInstructionsPPC64 specified, but needs at least Power9.");
       FLAG_SET_DEFAULT(UseCountTrailingZerosInstructionsPPC64, false);
     }
+    if (UseCharacterCompareIntrinsics) {
+      warning("UseCharacterCompareIntrinsics specified, but needs at least Power9.");
+      FLAG_SET_DEFAULT(UseCharacterCompareIntrinsics, false);
+    }
   }
 #endif