diff --git a/config/Config-images.in b/config/Config-images.in
index c2d7af7a80..6f2f926432 100644
--- a/config/Config-images.in
+++ b/config/Config-images.in
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ menu "Target Images"
 		config TARGET_EXT4_JOURNAL
 			bool "Create a journaling filesystem"
 			depends on TARGET_ROOTFS_EXT4FS
+			default y
 			help
 			  Create an ext4 filesystem with a journal.