diff --git a/c/src/lib/libcpu/powerpc/ChangeLog b/c/src/lib/libcpu/powerpc/ChangeLog
index c67d919d2f..29803fec08 100644
--- a/c/src/lib/libcpu/powerpc/ChangeLog
+++ b/c/src/lib/libcpu/powerpc/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+2008-07-16	Till Straumann <strauman@slac.stanford.edu>
+
+	* shared/include/powerpc-utility.h: Added 
+	GET_INTERRUPT_MASK macro.
+
 2008-07-16	Joel Sherrill <joel.sherrill@oarcorp.com>
 
 	* mpc6xx/clock/c_clock.c: Add fast idle.
diff --git a/c/src/lib/libcpu/powerpc/shared/include/powerpc-utility.h b/c/src/lib/libcpu/powerpc/shared/include/powerpc-utility.h
index 44a9a68216..23f00ff4a5 100644
--- a/c/src/lib/libcpu/powerpc/shared/include/powerpc-utility.h
+++ b/c/src/lib/libcpu/powerpc/shared/include/powerpc-utility.h
@@ -498,13 +498,20 @@ static inline void ppc_set_time_base_64( uint64_t val)
 \name:
 .endm
 
+/*
+ * Obtain interrupt mask
+ */
+.macro GET_INTERRUPT_MASK mask
+	mfspr \mask, sprg0
+.endm
+
 /*
  * Disables all asynchronous exeptions (interrupts) which may cause a context
  * switch.
  */
 .macro INTERRUPT_DISABLE level, mask
 	mfmsr	\level
-	mfspr	\mask, sprg0
+	GET_INTERRUPT_MASK mask=\mask
 	andc	\mask, \level, \mask
 	mtmsr	\mask
 .endm