diff --git a/arch/ia64/Makefile b/arch/ia64/Makefile
index b916ccfdef84..f1645c4f7039 100644
--- a/arch/ia64/Makefile
+++ b/arch/ia64/Makefile
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 # Copyright (C) 1998-2004 by David Mosberger-Tang <davidm@hpl.hp.com>
 #
 
+KBUILD_DEFCONFIG := generic_defconfig
+
 NM := $(CROSS_COMPILE)nm -B
 READELF := $(CROSS_COMPILE)readelf
 
diff --git a/arch/ia64/defconfig b/arch/ia64/configs/generic_defconfig
similarity index 100%
rename from arch/ia64/defconfig
rename to arch/ia64/configs/generic_defconfig