diff --git a/arch/arc/Kconfig b/arch/arc/Kconfig
index c4ee25e88a7b..e983f410135a 100644
--- a/arch/arc/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/arc/Kconfig
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ endmenu
 
 choice
 	prompt "ARC Instruction Set"
-	default ISA_ARCOMPACT
+	default ISA_ARCV2
 
 config ISA_ARCOMPACT
 	bool "ARCompact ISA"
diff --git a/arch/arc/Makefile b/arch/arc/Makefile
index 9d64eacdd2aa..fffaff9c7b2c 100644
--- a/arch/arc/Makefile
+++ b/arch/arc/Makefile
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ ifeq ($(CROSS_COMPILE),)
 CROSS_COMPILE := arc-linux-
 endif
 
-KBUILD_DEFCONFIG := nsim_700_defconfig
+KBUILD_DEFCONFIG := nsim_hs_defconfig
 
 cflags-y	+= -fno-common -pipe -fno-builtin -mmedium-calls -D__linux__
 cflags-$(CONFIG_ISA_ARCOMPACT)	+= -mA7
diff --git a/arch/arc/configs/axs101_defconfig b/arch/arc/configs/axs101_defconfig
index dbee1934dfc6..870b79ba50bc 100644
--- a/arch/arc/configs/axs101_defconfig
+++ b/arch/arc/configs/axs101_defconfig
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ CONFIG_PERF_EVENTS=y
 # CONFIG_VM_EVENT_COUNTERS is not set
 # CONFIG_SLUB_DEBUG is not set
 # CONFIG_COMPAT_BRK is not set
+CONFIG_ISA_ARCOMPACT=y
 CONFIG_MODULES=y
 CONFIG_PARTITION_ADVANCED=y
 CONFIG_ARC_PLAT_AXS10X=y
diff --git a/arch/arc/configs/nsim_700_defconfig b/arch/arc/configs/nsim_700_defconfig
index 138f9d887957..86e5a62556a8 100644
--- a/arch/arc/configs/nsim_700_defconfig
+++ b/arch/arc/configs/nsim_700_defconfig
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ CONFIG_KALLSYMS_ALL=y
 CONFIG_EMBEDDED=y
 # CONFIG_SLUB_DEBUG is not set
 # CONFIG_COMPAT_BRK is not set
+CONFIG_ISA_ARCOMPACT=y
 CONFIG_KPROBES=y
 CONFIG_MODULES=y
 # CONFIG_LBDAF is not set
diff --git a/arch/arc/configs/nsimosci_defconfig b/arch/arc/configs/nsimosci_defconfig
index 31e1d95764ff..51cb7844c807 100644
--- a/arch/arc/configs/nsimosci_defconfig
+++ b/arch/arc/configs/nsimosci_defconfig
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ CONFIG_KALLSYMS_ALL=y
 CONFIG_EMBEDDED=y
 # CONFIG_SLUB_DEBUG is not set
 # CONFIG_COMPAT_BRK is not set
+CONFIG_ISA_ARCOMPACT=y
 CONFIG_KPROBES=y
 CONFIG_MODULES=y
 # CONFIG_LBDAF is not set
diff --git a/arch/arc/configs/tb10x_defconfig b/arch/arc/configs/tb10x_defconfig
index 3b4dc9cebcf1..7469b754ac77 100644
--- a/arch/arc/configs/tb10x_defconfig
+++ b/arch/arc/configs/tb10x_defconfig
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ CONFIG_KALLSYMS_ALL=y
 # CONFIG_AIO is not set
 CONFIG_EMBEDDED=y
 # CONFIG_COMPAT_BRK is not set
+CONFIG_ISA_ARCOMPACT=y
 CONFIG_SLAB=y
 CONFIG_MODULES=y
 CONFIG_MODULE_FORCE_LOAD=y