diff --git a/config/Config-kernel.in b/config/Config-kernel.in
index fbcd008f2f..c1bc7984f7 100644
--- a/config/Config-kernel.in
+++ b/config/Config-kernel.in
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ config KERNEL_MIPS_FP_SUPPORT
 
 config KERNEL_ARM_PMU
 	bool
+	default y if TARGET_armsr_armv8
 	depends on (arm || aarch64)
 
 config KERNEL_X86_VSYSCALL_EMULATION