diff --git a/target/linux/lantiq/image/Makefile b/target/linux/lantiq/image/Makefile
index 68de191283..d385cdca7b 100644
--- a/target/linux/lantiq/image/Makefile
+++ b/target/linux/lantiq/image/Makefile
@@ -111,10 +111,12 @@ define Device/AVM
 endef
 
 ifeq ($(SUBTARGET),ase)
+DEFAULT_SOC := amazonse
 include amazonse.mk
 endif
 
 ifeq ($(SUBTARGET),xway_legacy)
+DEFAULT_SOC := danube
 include xway_legacy.mk
 endif
 
@@ -125,12 +127,14 @@ endif
 
 
 ifeq ($(SUBTARGET),xrx200)
+DEFAULT_SOC := vr9
 include tp-link.mk
 include vr9.mk
 endif
 
 
 ifeq ($(SUBTARGET),falcon)
+DEFAULT_SOC := falcon
 include falcon.mk
 endif
 
diff --git a/target/linux/lantiq/image/amazonse.mk b/target/linux/lantiq/image/amazonse.mk
index c9329a4dd9..4a23a68e40 100644
--- a/target/linux/lantiq/image/amazonse.mk
+++ b/target/linux/lantiq/image/amazonse.mk
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ define Device/allnet_all0333cj
   DEVICE_VENDOR := Allnet
   DEVICE_MODEL := ALL0333CJ
   IMAGE_SIZE := 3700k
-  SOC := amazonse
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-ltq-adsl-ase kmod-ltq-adsl-ase-mei \
 	kmod-ltq-adsl-ase-fw-b kmod-ltq-atm-ase \
 	ltq-adsl-app ppp-mod-pppoe
@@ -13,7 +12,6 @@ define Device/netgear_dgn1000b
   DEVICE_VENDOR := NETGEAR
   DEVICE_MODEL := DGN1000B
   IMAGE_SIZE := 6000k
-  SOC := amazonse
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-ltq-adsl-ase kmod-ltq-adsl-ase-mei \
 	kmod-ltq-adsl-ase-fw-b kmod-ltq-atm-ase \
 	ltq-adsl-app ppp-mod-pppoe
diff --git a/target/linux/lantiq/image/falcon.mk b/target/linux/lantiq/image/falcon.mk
index e6aae1240b..a5490f6e68 100644
--- a/target/linux/lantiq/image/falcon.mk
+++ b/target/linux/lantiq/image/falcon.mk
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ define Device/lantiq_easy88388
   DEVICE_VENDOR := Lantiq
   DEVICE_MODEL := EASY88388 Falcon FTTDP8 Reference Board
   IMAGE_SIZE := 7424k
-  SOC := falcon
 endef
 TARGET_DEVICES += lantiq_easy88388
 
@@ -10,7 +9,6 @@ define Device/lantiq_easy88444
   DEVICE_VENDOR := Lantiq
   DEVICE_MODEL := EASY88444 Falcon FTTdp G.FAST Reference Board
   IMAGE_SIZE := 7424k
-  SOC := falcon
 endef
 TARGET_DEVICES += lantiq_easy88444
 
@@ -19,7 +17,6 @@ define Device/lantiq_easy98020
   DEVICE_MODEL := Falcon SFU Reference Board (EASY98020)
   DEVICE_VARIANT := v1.0-v1.7
   IMAGE_SIZE := 7424k
-  SOC := falcon
 endef
 TARGET_DEVICES += lantiq_easy98020
 
@@ -28,7 +25,6 @@ define Device/lantiq_easy98020-v18
   DEVICE_MODEL := Falcon SFU Reference Board (EASY98020)
   DEVICE_VARIANT := v1.8
   IMAGE_SIZE := 7424k
-  SOC := falcon
 endef
 TARGET_DEVICES += lantiq_easy98020-v18
 
@@ -36,7 +32,6 @@ define Device/lantiq_easy98021
   DEVICE_VENDOR := Lantiq
   DEVICE_MODEL := Falcon HGU Reference Board (EASY98021)
   IMAGE_SIZE := 7424k
-  SOC := falcon
 endef
 TARGET_DEVICES += lantiq_easy98021
 
@@ -45,7 +40,6 @@ define Device/lantiq_easy98035synce
   DEVICE_MODEL := Falcon SFP Stick (EASY98035SYNCE)
   DEVICE_VARIANT := with Synchronous Ethernet
   IMAGE_SIZE := 7424k
-  SOC := falcon
 endef
 TARGET_DEVICES += lantiq_easy98035synce
 
@@ -54,7 +48,6 @@ define Device/lantiq_easy98035synce1588
   DEVICE_MODEL := Falcon SFP Stick (EASY98035SYNCE1588)
   DEVICE_VARIANT := with SyncE and IEEE1588
   IMAGE_SIZE := 7424k
-  SOC := falcon
 endef
 TARGET_DEVICES += lantiq_easy98035synce1588
 
@@ -63,7 +56,6 @@ define Device/lantiq_easy98000-nand
   DEVICE_MODEL := EASY98000 Falcon Eval Board
   DEVICE_VARIANT := NAND
   IMAGE_SIZE := 3904k
-  SOC := falcon
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-dm9000 kmod-i2c-lantiq kmod-eeprom-at24
 endef
 TARGET_DEVICES += lantiq_easy98000-nand
@@ -73,7 +65,6 @@ define Device/lantiq_easy98000-nor
   DEVICE_MODEL := EASY98000 Falcon Eval Board
   DEVICE_VARIANT := NOR
   IMAGE_SIZE := 3904k
-  SOC := falcon
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-dm9000 kmod-i2c-lantiq kmod-eeprom-at24
 endef
 TARGET_DEVICES += lantiq_easy98000-nor
@@ -83,7 +74,6 @@ define Device/lantiq_easy98000-sflash
   DEVICE_MODEL := EASY98000 Falcon Eval Board
   DEVICE_VARIANT := SFLASH
   IMAGE_SIZE := 7424k
-  SOC := falcon
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-dm9000 kmod-i2c-lantiq kmod-eeprom-at24
 endef
 TARGET_DEVICES += lantiq_easy98000-sflash
@@ -92,7 +82,6 @@ define Device/lantiq_falcon-mdu
   DEVICE_VENDOR := Lantiq
   DEVICE_MODEL := Falcon / VINAXdp MDU Board
   IMAGE_SIZE := 7424k
-  SOC := falcon
 endef
 TARGET_DEVICES += lantiq_falcon-mdu
 
@@ -100,6 +89,5 @@ define Device/lantiq_falcon-sfp
   DEVICE_VENDOR := Lantiq
   DEVICE_MODEL := Falcon SFP Stick
   IMAGE_SIZE := 7424k
-  SOC := falcon
 endef
 TARGET_DEVICES += lantiq_falcon-sfp
diff --git a/target/linux/lantiq/image/tp-link.mk b/target/linux/lantiq/image/tp-link.mk
index fa98f31f59..acbc32b46a 100644
--- a/target/linux/lantiq/image/tp-link.mk
+++ b/target/linux/lantiq/image/tp-link.mk
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ DEVICE_VARS += TPLINK_FLASHLAYOUT TPLINK_HWID TPLINK_HWREV TPLINK_HWREVADD TPLIN
 
 define Device/lantiqTpLink
   DEVICE_VENDOR := TP-Link
-  SOC := vr9
   TPLINK_HWREVADD := 0
   TPLINK_HVERSION := 2
   KERNEL := kernel-bin | append-dtb | lzma
diff --git a/target/linux/lantiq/image/vr9.mk b/target/linux/lantiq/image/vr9.mk
index cd43c61e6e..083d8efe0f 100644
--- a/target/linux/lantiq/image/vr9.mk
+++ b/target/linux/lantiq/image/vr9.mk
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ define Device/alphanetworks_asl56026
   DEVICE_MODEL := ASL56026
   DEVICE_ALT0_VENDOR := BT Openreach
   DEVICE_ALT0_MODEL := ECI VDSL Modem V-2FUb/I
-  SOC := vr9
   IMAGE_SIZE := 7488k
 endef
 TARGET_DEVICES += alphanetworks_asl56026
@@ -17,7 +16,6 @@ define Device/arcadyan_arv7519rw22
   DEVICE_ALT1_VENDOR := Astoria Networks
   DEVICE_ALT1_MODEL := ARV7519RW22
   IMAGE_SIZE := 31232k
-  SOC := vr9
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-usb-dwc2
   SUPPORTED_DEVICES += ARV7519RW22
 endef
@@ -27,7 +25,6 @@ define Device/arcadyan_vg3503j
   DEVICE_VENDOR := BT Openreach
   DEVICE_MODEL := ECI VDSL Modem V-2FUb/R
   IMAGE_SIZE := 8000k
-  SOC := vr9
   SUPPORTED_DEVICES += VG3503J
 endef
 TARGET_DEVICES += arcadyan_vg3503j
@@ -41,7 +38,6 @@ define Device/arcadyan_vgv7510kw22-brn
   DEVICE_ALT0_MODEL := Box 6431
   DEVICE_ALT0_VARIANT := BRN
   IMAGE_SIZE := 7168k
-  SOC := vr9
   SIGNATURE := BRNDA6431
   MAGIC := 0x12345678
   CRC32_POLY := 0x04c11db7
@@ -58,7 +54,6 @@ define Device/arcadyan_vgv7510kw22-nor
   DEVICE_ALT0_MODEL := Box 6431
   DEVICE_ALT0_VARIANT := NOR
   IMAGE_SIZE := 15232k
-  SOC := vr9
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-rt2800-pci wpad-basic kmod-usb-dwc2 kmod-ltq-tapi kmod-ltq-vmmc
   SUPPORTED_DEVICES += VGV7510KW22NOR
 endef
@@ -73,7 +68,6 @@ define Device/arcadyan_vgv7519-brn
   DEVICE_ALT0_MODEL := Experiabox 8
   DEVICE_ALT0_VARIANT := BRN
   IMAGE_SIZE := 7168k
-  SOC := vr9
   SIGNATURE := 5D00008000
   MAGIC := 0x12345678
   CRC32_POLY := 0x2083b8ed
@@ -90,7 +84,6 @@ define Device/arcadyan_vgv7519-nor
   DEVICE_ALT0_MODEL := Experiabox 8
   DEVICE_ALT0_VARIANT := NOR
   IMAGE_SIZE := 15360k
-  SOC := vr9
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-rt2800-pci wpad-basic kmod-usb-dwc2 kmod-ltq-tapi kmod-ltq-vmmc
   SUPPORTED_DEVICES += VGV7519NOR
 endef
@@ -101,7 +94,6 @@ define Device/avm_fritz3370
   $(Device/NAND)
   DEVICE_MODEL := FRITZ!Box 3370
   DEVICE_VARIANT := Rev. 2
-  SOC := vr9
   KERNEL_SIZE := 4096k
   UBINIZE_OPTS := -E 5
   IMAGES += eva-kernel.bin eva-filesystem.bin
@@ -128,7 +120,6 @@ define Device/avm_fritz7360sl
   $(Device/AVM)
   DEVICE_MODEL := FRITZ!Box 7360 SL
   IMAGE_SIZE := 15744k
-  SOC := vr9
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-ath9k kmod-owl-loader wpad-basic kmod-usb-dwc2
   SUPPORTED_DEVICES += FRITZ7360SL
 endef
@@ -140,7 +131,6 @@ define Device/avm_fritz7362sl
   DEVICE_MODEL := FRITZ!Box 7362 SL
   KERNEL_SIZE := 4096k
   IMAGE_SIZE := 49152k
-  SOC := vr9
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-ath9k kmod-owl-loader wpad-basic kmod-usb-dwc2 fritz-tffs
 endef
 TARGET_DEVICES += avm_fritz7362sl
@@ -150,7 +140,6 @@ define Device/avm_fritz7412
   $(Device/NAND)
   DEVICE_MODEL := FRITZ!Box 7412
   BOARD_NAME := FRITZ7412
-  SOC := vr9
   KERNEL_SIZE := 4096k
   IMAGE_SIZE := 49152k
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-ath9k kmod-owl-loader wpad-basic fritz-tffs-nand fritz-caldata
@@ -163,7 +152,6 @@ define Device/bt_homehub-v5a
   DEVICE_MODEL := Home Hub 5
   DEVICE_VARIANT := Type A
   BOARD_NAME := BTHOMEHUBV5A
-  SOC := vr9
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-ath9k kmod-owl-loader \
 	kmod-ath10k-ct ath10k-firmware-qca988x-ct wpad-basic kmod-usb-dwc2
   SUPPORTED_DEVICES += BTHOMEHUBV5A
@@ -174,7 +162,6 @@ define Device/buffalo_wbmr-300hpd
   DEVICE_VENDOR := Buffalo
   DEVICE_MODEL := WBMR-300HPD
   IMAGE_SIZE := 15616k
-  SOC := vr9
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-mt7603 wpad-basic kmod-usb-dwc2
   SUPPORTED_DEVICES += WBMR300
 endef
@@ -185,7 +172,6 @@ define Device/lantiq_easy80920-nand
   DEVICE_VENDOR := Lantiq
   DEVICE_MODEL := VR9 EASY80920
   DEVICE_VARIANT := NAND
-  SOC := vr9
   IMAGE_SIZE := 64512k
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-ath9k kmod-owl-loader wpad-basic kmod-usb-dwc2 kmod-usb-ledtrig-usbport
 endef
@@ -195,7 +181,6 @@ define Device/lantiq_easy80920-nor
   DEVICE_VENDOR := Lantiq
   DEVICE_MODEL := VR9 EASY80920
   DEVICE_VARIANT := NOR
-  SOC := vr9
   IMAGE_SIZE := 7936k
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-ath9k kmod-owl-loader wpad-basic kmod-usb-dwc2 kmod-usb-ledtrig-usbport
 endef
@@ -204,7 +189,6 @@ TARGET_DEVICES += lantiq_easy80920-nor
 define Device/netgear_dm200
   DEVICE_VENDOR := NETGEAR
   DEVICE_MODEL := DM200
-  SOC := vr9
   IMAGES := sysupgrade.bin factory.img
   IMAGE/sysupgrade.bin := append-kernel | \
 	pad-offset 64k 64 | append-uImage-fakehdr filesystem | \
@@ -224,7 +208,6 @@ define Device/zyxel_p-2812hnu-f1
   DEVICE_MODEL := P-2812HNU
   DEVICE_VARIANT := F1
   BOARD_NAME := P2812HNUF1
-  SOC := vr9
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-rt2800-pci wpad-basic kmod-usb-dwc2 kmod-usb-ledtrig-usbport
   KERNEL_SIZE := 3072k
   SUPPORTED_DEVICES += P2812HNUF1
@@ -237,7 +220,6 @@ define Device/zyxel_p-2812hnu-f3
   DEVICE_MODEL := P-2812HNU
   DEVICE_VARIANT := F3
   BOARD_NAME := P2812HNUF3
-  SOC := vr9
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-rt2800-pci wpad-basic kmod-usb-dwc2
   SUPPORTED_DEVICES += P2812HNUF3
 endef
diff --git a/target/linux/lantiq/image/xway_legacy.mk b/target/linux/lantiq/image/xway_legacy.mk
index 8af2e1c3fc..52a29ab2f0 100644
--- a/target/linux/lantiq/image/xway_legacy.mk
+++ b/target/linux/lantiq/image/xway_legacy.mk
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ define Device/arcadyan_arv4518pwr01
   DEVICE_VENDOR := Arcadyan
   DEVICE_MODEL := ARV4518PWR01
   IMAGE_SIZE := 3776k
-  SOC := danube
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-usb-dwc2 kmod-usb-ledtrig-usbport \
 	kmod-ltq-adsl-danube-mei kmod-ltq-adsl-danube \
 	kmod-ltq-adsl-danube-fw-a kmod-ltq-atm-danube \
@@ -16,7 +15,6 @@ define Device/arcadyan_arv4518pwr01a
   DEVICE_VENDOR := Arcadyan
   DEVICE_MODEL := ARV4518PWR01A
   IMAGE_SIZE := 3776k
-  SOC := danube
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-usb-dwc2 kmod-usb-ledtrig-usbport \
 	kmod-ltq-adsl-danube-mei kmod-ltq-adsl-danube \
 	kmod-ltq-adsl-danube-fw-a kmod-ltq-atm-danube \
@@ -34,7 +32,6 @@ define Device/arcadyan_arv4520pw
   DEVICE_ALT1_VENDOR := Airties
   DEVICE_ALT1_MODEL := WAV-281
   IMAGE_SIZE := 3648k
-  SOC := danube
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-usb-dwc2 kmod-usb-ledtrig-usbport \
 	kmod-ltq-adsl-danube-mei kmod-ltq-adsl-danube \
 	kmod-ltq-adsl-danube-fw-b kmod-ltq-atm-danube \
@@ -51,7 +48,6 @@ define Device/arcadyan_arv4525pw
   DEVICE_ALT0_MODEL := Speedport W502V
   DEVICE_ALT0_VARIANT := Typ A
   IMAGE_SIZE := 3776k
-  SOC := danube
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-ath5k wpad-mini \
 	kmod-ltq-adsl-danube-mei kmod-ltq-adsl-danube \
 	kmod-ltq-adsl-danube-fw-b kmod-ltq-atm-danube \
@@ -66,7 +62,6 @@ define Device/arcadyan_arv452cqw
   DEVICE_ALT0_VENDOR := Vodafone
   DEVICE_ALT0_MODEL := Easybox 801
   IMAGE_SIZE := 3776k
-  SOC := danube
   DEVICE_PACKAGES := kmod-usb-dwc2 kmod-usb-ledtrig-usbport \
 	kmod-ath5k wpad-mini \
 	kmod-ltq-adsl-danube-mei kmod-ltq-adsl-danube \