diff --git a/configs/example/arm/fs_bigLITTLE.py b/configs/example/arm/fs_bigLITTLE.py
index 2c78a6c99b..c188de663a 100644
--- a/configs/example/arm/fs_bigLITTLE.py
+++ b/configs/example/arm/fs_bigLITTLE.py
@@ -435,6 +435,7 @@ def build(options):
 
 def _build_kvm(options, system, cpus):
     system.kvm_vm = KvmVM()
+    system.release = ArmDefaultRelease.for_kvm()
 
     if options.kvm_userspace_gic:
         # We will use the simulated GIC.
diff --git a/tests/gem5/configs/arm_generic.py b/tests/gem5/configs/arm_generic.py
index 252ac6c2af..df118c7583 100644
--- a/tests/gem5/configs/arm_generic.py
+++ b/tests/gem5/configs/arm_generic.py
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ class LinuxArmSystemBuilder(object):
           system -- System to work on.
         """
         system.kvm_vm = KvmVM()
+        system.release = ArmDefaultRelease.for_kvm()
 
         # Arm KVM regressions will use a simulated GIC. This means that in
         # order to work we need to remove the system interface of the