diff --git a/default-configs/mips-softmmu-common.mak b/default-configs/mips-softmmu-common.mak
index e10ac4b20c..1ea47a9c2a 100644
--- a/default-configs/mips-softmmu-common.mak
+++ b/default-configs/mips-softmmu-common.mak
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 # Common mips*-softmmu CONFIG defines
 
+# CONFIG_SEMIHOSTING is always required on this architecture
+CONFIG_SEMIHOSTING=y
+
 CONFIG_ISA_BUS=y
 CONFIG_PCI=y
 CONFIG_PCI_DEVICES=y
@@ -35,7 +38,6 @@ CONFIG_MIPS_CPS=y
 CONFIG_MIPS_ITU=y
 CONFIG_R4K=y
 CONFIG_MALTA=y
-CONFIG_SEMIHOSTING=y
 CONFIG_PCNET_PCI=y
 CONFIG_MIPSSIM=y
 CONFIG_ACPI_SMBUS=y