diff --git a/arch/powerpc/Kconfig b/arch/powerpc/Kconfig
index b49062b060d2..5ee3dbeab323 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/powerpc/Kconfig
@@ -396,6 +396,14 @@ config MPROFILE_KERNEL
 	depends on PPC64 && CPU_LITTLE_ENDIAN
 	def_bool !DISABLE_MPROFILE_KERNEL
 
+config USE_THIN_ARCHIVES
+	bool "Build the kernel using thin archives"
+	default n
+	select THIN_ARCHIVES
+	help
+	  Build the kernel using thin archives.
+	  If you're unsure say N.
+
 config IOMMU_HELPER
 	def_bool PPC64
 
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/Makefile b/arch/powerpc/Makefile
index 041fda1e2a5d..0ee7be32b112 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/Makefile
+++ b/arch/powerpc/Makefile
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ CROSS32AR		:= $(CROSS32_COMPILE)ar
 ifeq ($(HAS_BIARCH),y)
 ifeq ($(CROSS32_COMPILE),)
 CROSS32CC	:= $(CC) -m32
-CROSS32AR	:= GNUTARGET=elf32-powerpc $(AR)
+KBUILD_ARFLAGS	+= --target=elf32-powerpc
 endif
 endif
 
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ ifeq ($(HAS_BIARCH),y)
 override AS	+= -a$(BITS)
 override LD	+= -m elf$(BITS)$(LDEMULATION)
 override CC	+= -m$(BITS)
-override AR	:= GNUTARGET=elf$(BITS)-$(GNUTARGET) $(AR)
+KBUILD_ARFLAGS	+= --target=elf$(BITS)-$(GNUTARGET)
 endif
 
 LDFLAGS_vmlinux-y := -Bstatic