diff --git a/target/linux/malta/be/target.mk b/target/linux/malta/be/target.mk
index 681bba881f..92ae58eb9d 100644
--- a/target/linux/malta/be/target.mk
+++ b/target/linux/malta/be/target.mk
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ ARCH:=mips
 ARCH_PACKAGES:=malta_mips
 SUBTARGET:=be
 BOARDNAME:=Big Endian
-FEATURES:=ramdisk
+FEATURES:=ramdisk mips16
 
 define Target/Description
 	Build BE firmware images for MIPS Malta CoreLV board running in
diff --git a/target/linux/malta/le/target.mk b/target/linux/malta/le/target.mk
index 5b609980b2..35fcf4cfe1 100644
--- a/target/linux/malta/le/target.mk
+++ b/target/linux/malta/le/target.mk
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ ARCH:=mipsel
 ARCH_PACKAGES:=malta_mipsel
 SUBTARGET:=le
 BOARDNAME:=Little Endian
-FEATURES:=ramdisk
+FEATURES:=ramdisk mips16
 
 define Target/Description
 	Build LE firmware images for MIPS Malta CoreLV board running in