diff --git a/arch/Config.in.arm b/arch/Config.in.arm
index 85070fbfc9..b05e83e33c 100644
--- a/arch/Config.in.arm
+++ b/arch/Config.in.arm
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ config BR2_ARM_CPU_ARMV8A
 
 choice
 	prompt "Target Architecture Variant"
+	default BR2_cortex_a53 if BR2_ARCH_IS_64
 	default BR2_arm926t
 	help
 	  Specific CPU variant to use