diff --git a/Makefile.system b/Makefile.system
index b1593e8f5..c696e0ddb 100644
--- a/Makefile.system
+++ b/Makefile.system
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ endif
 #For small matrix optimization
 ifeq ($(ARCH), x86_64)
 SMALL_MATRIX_OPT = 1
-else ifeq ($(CORE), POWER10)
+else ifeq ($(ARCH), power)
 SMALL_MATRIX_OPT = 1
 endif
 ifeq ($(SMALL_MATRIX_OPT), 1)