diff --git a/arch/arm/configs/kirkwood_defconfig b/arch/arm/configs/kirkwood_defconfig
index 0ae0eaebf6b2..2e762d94e94b 100644
--- a/arch/arm/configs/kirkwood_defconfig
+++ b/arch/arm/configs/kirkwood_defconfig
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ CONFIG_PCI_MVEBU=y
 CONFIG_PREEMPT=y
 CONFIG_AEABI=y
 # CONFIG_OABI_COMPAT is not set
+CONFIG_HIGHMEM=y
 CONFIG_ZBOOT_ROM_TEXT=0x0
 CONFIG_ZBOOT_ROM_BSS=0x0
 CONFIG_CPU_FREQ=y