diff --git a/conf/machine/freedom-u540.conf b/conf/machine/freedom-u540.conf
index 08e08d0..e8e20ef 100644
--- a/conf/machine/freedom-u540.conf
+++ b/conf/machine/freedom-u540.conf
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ KERNEL_CLASSES = "kernel-fitimage"
 KERNEL_IMAGETYPE = "fitImage"
 
 PREFERRED_PROVIDER_virtual/kernel ?= "linux-mainline"
+PREFERRED_PROVIDER_virtual/bootloader ?= "u-boot"
 
 PREFERRED_VERSION_openocd-native = "riscv"
 PREFERRED_VERSION_openocd = "riscv"