diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.d/buildtest.yml b/.gitlab-ci.d/buildtest.yml
index a91e8d359d..e2e92f25c5 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.d/buildtest.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.d/buildtest.yml
@@ -648,7 +648,8 @@ build-tci:
     - make check-tcg
 
 # Check our reduced build configurations
-# requires libfdt: aarch64, arm, i386, loongarch64, x86_64
+# requires libfdt: aarch64, arm, i386, loongarch64, microblaze, microblazeel,
+#   x86_64
 # does not build without boards: i386, loongarch64, x86_64
 build-without-defaults:
   extends: .native_build_job_template
diff --git a/configs/devices/microblaze-softmmu/default.mak b/configs/devices/microblaze-softmmu/default.mak
index db8c6e4bba..583e3959bb 100644
--- a/configs/devices/microblaze-softmmu/default.mak
+++ b/configs/devices/microblaze-softmmu/default.mak
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 # Default configuration for microblaze-softmmu
 
-# Boards:
-#
-CONFIG_PETALOGIX_S3ADSP1800=y
-CONFIG_PETALOGIX_ML605=y
-CONFIG_XLNX_ZYNQMP_PMU=y
+# Boards are selected by default, uncomment to keep out of the build.
+# CONFIG_PETALOGIX_S3ADSP1800=n
+# CONFIG_PETALOGIX_ML605=n
+# CONFIG_XLNX_ZYNQMP_PMU=n
diff --git a/hw/microblaze/Kconfig b/hw/microblaze/Kconfig
index e2697ced9c..d78ba843fa 100644
--- a/hw/microblaze/Kconfig
+++ b/hw/microblaze/Kconfig
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 config PETALOGIX_S3ADSP1800
     bool
+    default y
+    depends on MICROBLAZE
     select PFLASH_CFI01
     select XILINX
     select XILINX_AXI
@@ -8,6 +10,8 @@ config PETALOGIX_S3ADSP1800
 
 config PETALOGIX_ML605
     bool
+    default y
+    depends on MICROBLAZE
     select PFLASH_CFI01
     select SERIAL
     select SSI_M25P80
@@ -18,4 +22,6 @@ config PETALOGIX_ML605
 
 config XLNX_ZYNQMP_PMU
     bool
+    default y
+    depends on MICROBLAZE
     select XLNX_ZYNQMP