diff --git a/hw/i8259.c b/hw/i8259.c
index f813525009..adabd2b720 100644
--- a/hw/i8259.c
+++ b/hw/i8259.c
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ void pic_update_irq(PicState2 *s)
     }
 
 /* all targets should do this rather than acking the IRQ in the cpu */
-#if defined(TARGET_MIPS) || defined(TARGET_PPC)
+#if defined(TARGET_MIPS) || defined(TARGET_PPC) || defined(TARGET_ALPHA)
     else {
         qemu_irq_lower(s->parent_irq);
     }