diff --git a/target/linux/ath79/generic/config-default b/target/linux/ath79/generic/config-default
index d8c674cba7e..57cc9447d83 100644
--- a/target/linux/ath79/generic/config-default
+++ b/target/linux/ath79/generic/config-default
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ CONFIG_LEDS_RESET=y
 CONFIG_MARVELL_PHY=y
 CONFIG_MICREL_PHY=y
 CONFIG_MTD_REDBOOT_PARTS=y
+CONFIG_MTD_SPI_NOR_USE_VARIABLE_ERASE=y
 CONFIG_MTD_SPLIT_EVA_FW=y
 CONFIG_NVMEM_SYSFS=y
 CONFIG_NVMEM_U_BOOT_ENV=y