diff --git a/cpu/mpc8xxx/cpu.c b/cpu/mpc8xxx/cpu.c
index 339f6d9..c73ac3c 100644
--- a/cpu/mpc8xxx/cpu.c
+++ b/cpu/mpc8xxx/cpu.c
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@
 #endif
 };
 
+struct cpu_type cpu_type_unknown = CPU_TYPE_ENTRY(Unknown, Unknown, 1);
+
 struct cpu_type *identify_cpu(u32 ver)
 {
 	int i;
@@ -86,8 +88,7 @@
 		if (cpu_type_list[i].soc_ver == ver)
 			return &cpu_type_list[i];
 	}
-
-	return NULL;
+	return &cpu_type_unknown;
 }
 
 int cpu_numcores() {