diff --git a/package/binutils/Config.in.host b/package/binutils/Config.in.host
index 9a2b27c55e..8485568170 100644
--- a/package/binutils/Config.in.host
+++ b/package/binutils/Config.in.host
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ choice
 	prompt "Binutils Version"
 	default BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_2_28_X if BR2_ARM_INSTRUCTIONS_THUMB
 	default BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_2_28_X if BR2_ARM_INSTRUCTIONS_THUMB2
-	default BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_2_29_X if !BR2_arc
+	default BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_2_31_X if !BR2_arc
 	default BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_ARC if BR2_arc
 	help
 	  Select the version of binutils you wish to use.
diff --git a/package/binutils/binutils.mk b/package/binutils/binutils.mk
index 4531b8d9c8..6798356ff2 100644
--- a/package/binutils/binutils.mk
+++ b/package/binutils/binutils.mk
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ ifeq ($(BINUTILS_VERSION),)
 ifeq ($(BR2_arc),y)
 BINUTILS_VERSION = arc-2018.09-release
 else
-BINUTILS_VERSION = 2.29.1
+BINUTILS_VERSION = 2.31.1
 endif
 endif # BINUTILS_VERSION