diff --git a/openpower/configs/witherspoon_defconfig b/openpower/configs/witherspoon_defconfig
index 707b27a..a6c65de 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/witherspoon_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/witherspoon_defconfig
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_ZIMAGE_EPAPR=y
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_XZ=y
 BR2_PACKAGE_BUSYBOX_SHOW_OTHERS=y
 BR2_PACKAGE_LINUX_FIRMWARE=y
 BR2_PACKAGE_LINUX_FIRMWARE_BNX2X=y