diff --git a/README b/README
index 1e2d4d3..7b27c99 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -442,6 +442,16 @@ The following options need to be configured:
 		crash. This is needed for buggy hardware (uc101) where
 		no pull down resistor is connected to the signal IDE5V_DD7.
 
+		CONFIG_MACH_TYPE	[relevant for ARM only][mandatory]
+
+		This setting is mandatory for all boards that have only one
+		machine type and must be used to specify the machine type
+		number as it appears in the ARM machine registry
+		(see http://www.arm.linux.org.uk/developer/machines/).
+		Only boards that have multiple machine types supported
+		in a single configuration file and the machine type is
+		runtime discoverable, do not have to use this setting.
+
 - vxWorks boot parameters:
 
 		bootvx constructs a valid bootline using the following
diff --git a/arch/arm/lib/board.c b/arch/arm/lib/board.c
index fc52a26..6bbedf4 100644
--- a/arch/arm/lib/board.c
+++ b/arch/arm/lib/board.c
@@ -281,6 +281,10 @@ void board_init_f (ulong bootflag)
 
 	gd->mon_len = _bss_end_ofs;
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_MACH_TYPE
+	gd->bd->bi_arch_number = CONFIG_MACH_TYPE; /* board id for Linux */
+#endif
+
 	for (init_fnc_ptr = init_sequence; *init_fnc_ptr; ++init_fnc_ptr) {
 		if ((*init_fnc_ptr)() != 0) {
 			hang ();