diff --git a/target/linux/orion/Makefile b/target/linux/orion/Makefile
index 33224b35c8e..ac75a477b48 100644
--- a/target/linux/orion/Makefile
+++ b/target/linux/orion/Makefile
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ BOARD:=orion
 BOARDNAME:=Marvell Orion
 FEATURES:=squashfs
 SUBTARGETS=generic harddisk
+CFLAGS=-Os -pipe -march=armv5t -mtune=xscale -funit-at-a-time
 
 LINUX_VERSION:=2.6.30.10