diff --git a/arch/mips/Kconfig b/arch/mips/Kconfig
index 632fe8fe68c4..d96618c91103 100644
--- a/arch/mips/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/mips/Kconfig
@@ -93,14 +93,18 @@ config MIPS
 config MIPS_FIXUP_BIGPHYS_ADDR
 	bool
 
+config MIPS_GENERIC
+	bool
+
 menu "Machine selection"
 
 choice
 	prompt "System type"
-	default MIPS_GENERIC
+	default MIPS_GENERIC_KERNEL
 
-config MIPS_GENERIC
+config MIPS_GENERIC_KERNEL
 	bool "Generic board-agnostic MIPS kernel"
+	select MIPS_GENERIC
 	select BOOT_RAW
 	select BUILTIN_DTB
 	select CEVT_R4K
diff --git a/arch/mips/generic/Kconfig b/arch/mips/generic/Kconfig
index fd6019802657..5216c850b7e2 100644
--- a/arch/mips/generic/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/mips/generic/Kconfig
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
-if MIPS_GENERIC
+if MIPS_GENERIC_KERNEL
 
 config LEGACY_BOARDS
 	bool