diff --git a/arch/nios2/Kconfig b/arch/nios2/Kconfig
index c24955c81c92..67dae88c5b53 100644
--- a/arch/nios2/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/nios2/Kconfig
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 config NIOS2
 	def_bool y
 	select ARCH_32BIT_OFF_T
+	select ARCH_ATOMIC
 	select ARCH_HAS_DMA_PREP_COHERENT
 	select ARCH_HAS_SYNC_DMA_FOR_CPU
 	select ARCH_HAS_SYNC_DMA_FOR_DEVICE