diff --git a/arch/arm/configs/mvebu_v7_defconfig b/arch/arm/configs/mvebu_v7_defconfig
index e4ce6575459c..10501938d255 100644
--- a/arch/arm/configs/mvebu_v7_defconfig
+++ b/arch/arm/configs/mvebu_v7_defconfig
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ CONFIG_SERIAL_8250_CONSOLE=y
 CONFIG_SERIAL_8250_DW=y
 CONFIG_SERIAL_OF_PLATFORM=y
 CONFIG_I2C=y
+CONFIG_I2C_CHARDEV=y
 CONFIG_I2C_MV64XXX=y
 CONFIG_SPI=y
 CONFIG_SPI_ORION=y