diff --git a/board/qemu/x86/linux-4.2.config b/board/qemu/x86/linux-4.3.config
similarity index 100%
rename from board/qemu/x86/linux-4.2.config
rename to board/qemu/x86/linux-4.3.config
diff --git a/configs/qemu_x86_defconfig b/configs/qemu_x86_defconfig
index f2e202238d..9fd1fe9edc 100644
--- a/configs/qemu_x86_defconfig
+++ b/configs/qemu_x86_defconfig
@@ -10,14 +10,14 @@ BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_GETTY_PORT="tty1"
 BR2_TARGET_ROOTFS_EXT2=y
 # BR2_TARGET_ROOTFS_TAR is not set
 
-# Lock to 4.2 headers to avoid breaking with newer kernels
+# Lock to 4.3 headers to avoid breaking with newer kernels
 BR2_KERNEL_HEADERS_VERSION=y
-BR2_DEFAULT_KERNEL_VERSION="4.2.6"
-BR2_PACKAGE_HOST_LINUX_HEADERS_CUSTOM_4_2=y
+BR2_DEFAULT_KERNEL_VERSION="4.3"
+BR2_PACKAGE_HOST_LINUX_HEADERS_CUSTOM_4_3=y
 
 # Kernel
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.2.6"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.3"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="board/qemu/x86/linux-4.2.config"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="board/qemu/x86/linux-4.3.config"