diff --git a/arch/powerpc/platforms/Kconfig.cputype b/arch/powerpc/platforms/Kconfig.cputype
index c0dbdb004f49a874f1c545ff50d8a378e1f2d1e7..ca2da30ad2ab2284092d6c39a7e885563774b899 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/platforms/Kconfig.cputype
+++ b/arch/powerpc/platforms/Kconfig.cputype
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ endchoice
 choice
 	prompt "CPU selection"
 	depends on PPC64
+	default POWER8_CPU if CPU_LITTLE_ENDIAN
 	default GENERIC_CPU
 	help
 	  This will create a kernel which is optimised for a particular CPU.