diff --git a/boards/arm/sam_e70_xplained/sam_e70_xplained_defconfig b/boards/arm/sam_e70_xplained/sam_e70_xplained_defconfig
index 7f2783c47dc..37e5bebdb99 100644
--- a/boards/arm/sam_e70_xplained/sam_e70_xplained_defconfig
+++ b/boards/arm/sam_e70_xplained/sam_e70_xplained_defconfig
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ CONFIG_CONSOLE=y
 CONFIG_UART_CONSOLE=y
 CONFIG_SERIAL=y
 CONFIG_USART_SAM=y
+CONFIG_GPIO=y
 CONFIG_BOARD_SAM_E70_XPLAINED=y
 CONFIG_WDT_DISABLE_AT_BOOT=y
 CONFIG_BUILD_OUTPUT_HEX=y