diff --git a/base/mk/spec-cortex_a15.mk b/base/mk/spec-cortex_a15.mk
index 2cbbeeea9..e1f31f2c1 100644
--- a/base/mk/spec-cortex_a15.mk
+++ b/base/mk/spec-cortex_a15.mk
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ SPECS += arm_v7a
 # add repository relative include paths
 REP_INC_DIR += include/cortex_a15
 
+CC_OPT += -mcpu=cortex-a15
+
 # include implied specs
 include $(call select_from_repositories,mk/spec-arm_v7a.mk)
 
diff --git a/base/mk/spec-cortex_a8.mk b/base/mk/spec-cortex_a8.mk
index bddb8942d..553b828c6 100644
--- a/base/mk/spec-cortex_a8.mk
+++ b/base/mk/spec-cortex_a8.mk
@@ -10,5 +10,7 @@ SPECS += arm_v7a
 # add repository relative include paths
 REP_INC_DIR += include/cortex_a8
 
+CC_OPT += -mcpu=cortex-a8
+
 # include implied specs
 include $(call select_from_repositories,mk/spec-arm_v7a.mk)
diff --git a/base/mk/spec-cortex_a9.mk b/base/mk/spec-cortex_a9.mk
index 103f5439e..6101cbfaf 100644
--- a/base/mk/spec-cortex_a9.mk
+++ b/base/mk/spec-cortex_a9.mk
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ SPECS += arm_v7a pl390
 # add repository relative include paths
 REP_INC_DIR += include/cortex_a9
 
+CC_OPT += -mcpu=cortex-a9
+
 # include implied specs
 include $(call select_from_repositories,mk/spec-arm_v7a.mk)
 include $(call select_from_repositories,mk/spec-pl390.mk)