diff --git a/board/qemu/mipsel-malta/linux-2.6.38.config b/board/qemu/mipsel-malta/linux-3.1.config
similarity index 100%
rename from board/qemu/mipsel-malta/linux-2.6.38.config
rename to board/qemu/mipsel-malta/linux-3.1.config
diff --git a/configs/qemu_mipsel_malta_defconfig b/configs/qemu_mipsel_malta_defconfig
index f95fe2418d..3f558fea9e 100644
--- a/configs/qemu_mipsel_malta_defconfig
+++ b/configs/qemu_mipsel_malta_defconfig
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ BR2_TARGET_ROOTFS_EXT2=y
 # Kernel
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="2.6.38.8"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="3.1"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="board/qemu/mipsel-malta/linux-2.6.38.config"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="board/qemu/mipsel-malta/linux-3.1.config"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_VMLINUX=y
 
 # Serial port config