diff --git a/boards/arm64/qemu_cortex_a53/qemu_cortex_a53_defconfig b/boards/arm64/qemu_cortex_a53/qemu_cortex_a53_defconfig
index c3f19dac3ec..4c19444708b 100644
--- a/boards/arm64/qemu_cortex_a53/qemu_cortex_a53_defconfig
+++ b/boards/arm64/qemu_cortex_a53/qemu_cortex_a53_defconfig
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 CONFIG_SOC_QEMU_CORTEX_A53=y
 CONFIG_BOARD_QEMU_CORTEX_A53=y
 CONFIG_ARM_ARCH_TIMER=y
-CONFIG_QEMU_ICOUNT=n
+CONFIG_QEMU_ICOUNT=y
+CONFIG_QEMU_ICOUNT_SHIFT=4
+CONFIG_QEMU_ICOUNT_SLEEP=y
 
 # Cache management
 CONFIG_CACHE_MANAGEMENT=y