diff --git a/Config.in b/Config.in
index 74b3696242..bdd5547d94 100644
--- a/Config.in
+++ b/Config.in
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ menu "Target Images"
 	config TARGET_ROOTFS_EXT2FS
 		bool "ext2"
 		default y if !USES_SQUASHFS && !USES_JFFS2
+		default y if USES_EXT2
 		depends !TARGET_ROOTFS_INITRAMFS
 		help
 		  Ext2 file system with some free space for uml images
diff --git a/target/Config.in b/target/Config.in
index 9bcbd3782e..ca3397c01f 100644
--- a/target/Config.in
+++ b/target/Config.in
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ config LINUX_2_6_X86
 	select USB_SUPPORT
 	select PCMCIA_SUPPORT
 	select USES_JFFS2
+	select USES_EXT2
 	help
 	  Build firmware images for x86 based boards
 	  (e.g. Soekris net4521 and net4801, PC Engines WRAP...)
@@ -216,6 +217,9 @@ config USES_SQUASHFS
 config USES_JFFS2
 	bool
 
+config USES_EXT2
+	bool
+
 # Architecture selection
 
 config i386