diff --git a/configs/qemu_mips32r6_malta_defconfig b/configs/qemu_mips32r6_malta_defconfig
index b0bf94ce7b..52a29f110c 100644
--- a/configs/qemu_mips32r6_malta_defconfig
+++ b/configs/qemu_mips32r6_malta_defconfig
@@ -20,10 +20,6 @@ BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="board/qemu/mips32r6-malta/linux.config"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_VMLINUX=y
 
-# Compiler
-# linux >= 4.4 uses -mcompact-branches which is only available since gcc-6
-BR2_GCC_VERSION_6_X=y
-
 # Serial port config
 BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_GETTY=y
 BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_GETTY_PORT="ttyS0"
diff --git a/configs/qemu_mips32r6el_malta_defconfig b/configs/qemu_mips32r6el_malta_defconfig
index 077d836da3..7d08430f3e 100644
--- a/configs/qemu_mips32r6el_malta_defconfig
+++ b/configs/qemu_mips32r6el_malta_defconfig
@@ -20,10 +20,6 @@ BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="board/qemu/mips32r6el-malta/linux.config"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_VMLINUX=y
 
-# Compiler
-# linux >= 4.4 uses -mcompact-branches which is only available since GCC 6.x
-BR2_GCC_VERSION_6_X=y
-
 # Serial port config
 BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_GETTY=y
 BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_GETTY_PORT="ttyS0"
diff --git a/configs/qemu_mips64r6_malta_defconfig b/configs/qemu_mips64r6_malta_defconfig
index bfa32f657e..3b01799839 100644
--- a/configs/qemu_mips64r6_malta_defconfig
+++ b/configs/qemu_mips64r6_malta_defconfig
@@ -21,10 +21,6 @@ BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="board/qemu/mips64r6-malta/linux.config"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_VMLINUX=y
 
-# Compiler
-# linux >= 4.4 uses -mcompact-branches which is only available since gcc-6
-BR2_GCC_VERSION_6_X=y
-
 # Serial port config
 BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_GETTY=y
 BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_GETTY_PORT="ttyS0"
diff --git a/configs/qemu_mips64r6el_malta_defconfig b/configs/qemu_mips64r6el_malta_defconfig
index 2fd855d79b..f5fecc5642 100644
--- a/configs/qemu_mips64r6el_malta_defconfig
+++ b/configs/qemu_mips64r6el_malta_defconfig
@@ -21,10 +21,6 @@ BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="board/qemu/mips64r6el-malta/linux.config"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_VMLINUX=y
 
-# Compiler
-# linux >= 4.4 uses -mcompact-branches which is only available since gcc-6
-BR2_GCC_VERSION_6_X=y
-
 # Serial port config
 BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_GETTY=y
 BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_GETTY_PORT="ttyS0"