diff --git a/Config.in b/Config.in
index 40a74e77abae54631c4ab523a085255b49f2ddc0..acfb437bd479bcc47dea44c772439d8665c788d0 100644
--- a/Config.in
+++ b/Config.in
@@ -879,6 +879,7 @@ menuconfig TARGET_OPTIONS
 	config USE_MIPS16
 		bool "Build packages with MIPS16 instructions" if TARGET_OPTIONS
 		depends on HAS_MIPS16
+		default y
 		help
 		  If your target CPU does support the MIPS16 instruction set
 		  and you want to use it for packages, enable this option.