diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.d/buildtest.yml b/.gitlab-ci.d/buildtest.yml
index e2e92f25c5..811132443a 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.d/buildtest.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.d/buildtest.yml
@@ -649,7 +649,7 @@ build-tci:
 
 # Check our reduced build configurations
 # requires libfdt: aarch64, arm, i386, loongarch64, microblaze, microblazeel,
-#   x86_64
+#   mips64el, x86_64
 # does not build without boards: i386, loongarch64, x86_64
 build-without-defaults:
   extends: .native_build_job_template
@@ -665,6 +665,7 @@ build-without-defaults:
       --disable-qom-cast-debug
       --disable-strip
     TARGETS: alpha-softmmu avr-softmmu cris-softmmu hppa-softmmu m68k-softmmu
+      mips-softmmu mips64-softmmu mipsel-softmmu
       s390x-softmmu sh4-softmmu
       sparc64-softmmu hexagon-linux-user i386-linux-user s390x-linux-user
     MAKE_CHECK_ARGS: check
diff --git a/configs/devices/mips-softmmu/common.mak b/configs/devices/mips-softmmu/common.mak
index 416a5d353e..b50107feaf 100644
--- a/configs/devices/mips-softmmu/common.mak
+++ b/configs/devices/mips-softmmu/common.mak
@@ -4,5 +4,6 @@
 # CONFIG_PCI_DEVICES=n
 # CONFIG_TEST_DEVICES=n
 
-CONFIG_MALTA=y
-CONFIG_MIPSSIM=y
+# Boards are selected by default, uncomment to keep out of the build.
+# CONFIG_MALTA=n
+# CONFIG_MIPSSIM=n
diff --git a/configs/devices/mips64-softmmu/default.mak b/configs/devices/mips64-softmmu/default.mak
index 566672f3c2..1b8d7ced1c 100644
--- a/configs/devices/mips64-softmmu/default.mak
+++ b/configs/devices/mips64-softmmu/default.mak
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 # Default configuration for mips64-softmmu
 
 include ../mips-softmmu/common.mak
-CONFIG_JAZZ=y
+
+# Boards are selected by default, uncomment to keep out of the build.
+# CONFIG_JAZZ=n
diff --git a/configs/devices/mips64el-softmmu/default.mak b/configs/devices/mips64el-softmmu/default.mak
index 88a37cf27f..9dce346c4f 100644
--- a/configs/devices/mips64el-softmmu/default.mak
+++ b/configs/devices/mips64el-softmmu/default.mak
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 # Default configuration for mips64el-softmmu
 
 include ../mips-softmmu/common.mak
-CONFIG_FULOONG=y
-CONFIG_LOONGSON3V=y
-CONFIG_JAZZ=y
-CONFIG_MIPS_BOSTON=y
+
+# Boards are selected by default, uncomment to keep out of the build.
+# CONFIG_FULOONG=n
+# CONFIG_LOONGSON3V=n
+# CONFIG_JAZZ=n
+# CONFIG_MIPS_BOSTON=n
diff --git a/hw/mips/Kconfig b/hw/mips/Kconfig
index 5c83ef49cf..9bccb363eb 100644
--- a/hw/mips/Kconfig
+++ b/hw/mips/Kconfig
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 config MALTA
     bool
+    default y
+    depends on MIPS
     imply PCNET_PCI
     imply PCI_DEVICES
     imply TEST_DEVICES
@@ -13,11 +15,15 @@ config MALTA
 
 config MIPSSIM
     bool
+    default y
+    depends on MIPS
     select SERIAL
     select MIPSNET
 
 config JAZZ
     bool
+    default y
+    depends on MIPS64
     select ISA_BUS
     select RC4030
     select I8259
@@ -38,6 +44,8 @@ config JAZZ
 
 config FULOONG
     bool
+    default y
+    depends on MIPS64 && !TARGET_BIG_ENDIAN
     imply PCI_DEVICES
     imply TEST_DEVICES
     imply ATI_VGA
@@ -48,6 +56,8 @@ config FULOONG
 
 config LOONGSON3V
     bool
+    default y
+    depends on MIPS64 && !TARGET_BIG_ENDIAN
     imply PCI_DEVICES
     imply TEST_DEVICES
     imply VIRTIO_PCI
@@ -69,6 +79,8 @@ config MIPS_CPS
 
 config MIPS_BOSTON
     bool
+    default y
+    depends on MIPS64 && !TARGET_BIG_ENDIAN
     imply PCI_DEVICES
     imply TEST_DEVICES
     select FITLOADER