diff --git a/Makefile.target b/Makefile.target
index adc8537139..093d40c8ec 100644
--- a/Makefile.target
+++ b/Makefile.target
@@ -30,9 +30,17 @@ ifeq ($(TARGET_ARCH),arm)
   else
     QEMU_USER=qemu-arm
   endif
+else
+ifeq ($(TARGET_ARCH),mips)
+  ifeq ($(TARGET_WORDS_BIGENDIAN),yes)
+    QEMU_USER=qemu-mips
+  else
+    QEMU_USER=qemu-mipsel
+  endif
 else
   QEMU_USER=qemu-$(TARGET_ARCH)
 endif
+endif
 # system emulator name
 ifdef CONFIG_SOFTMMU
 ifeq ($(TARGET_ARCH), i386)