diff --git a/Config.in.legacy b/Config.in.legacy
index 1a325f8139..73d8ab4ca7 100644
--- a/Config.in.legacy
+++ b/Config.in.legacy
@@ -4100,10 +4100,11 @@ config BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_TOOL_SELFTESTS
 config BR2_GCC_VERSION_4_8_ARC
 	bool "gcc arc option renamed"
 	select BR2_LEGACY
-	select BR2_GCC_VERSION_ARC
 	help
 	  The option that selects the gcc version for the ARC
 	  architecture has been renamed to BR2_GCC_VERSION_ARC.
+# Note: BR2_GCC_VERSION_4_8_ARC is still referenced from
+# package/gcc/Config.in.host
 
 config BR2_KERNEL_HEADERS_4_0
 	bool "kernel headers version 4.0.x are no longer supported"
diff --git a/package/gcc/Config.in.host b/package/gcc/Config.in.host
index d7fedc9591..cd1b9fa46d 100644
--- a/package/gcc/Config.in.host
+++ b/package/gcc/Config.in.host
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ comment "GCC Options"
 
 choice
 	prompt "GCC compiler Version"
+	default BR2_GCC_VERSION_ARC if BR2_GCC_VERSION_4_8_ARC # legacy
 	default BR2_GCC_VERSION_ARC if BR2_arc
 	default BR2_GCC_VERSION_POWERPC_SPE if BR2_powerpc_SPE
 	default BR2_GCC_VERSION_11_X