diff --git a/boards/arc/em_starterkit/board.cmake b/boards/arc/em_starterkit/board.cmake
index cbeaea2e456..3e3df1c01f3 100644
--- a/boards/arc/em_starterkit/board.cmake
+++ b/boards/arc/em_starterkit/board.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
+board_runner_args(openocd "--use-elf")
 include(${ZEPHYR_BASE}/boards/common/openocd.board.cmake)
diff --git a/boards/arc/emsdp/board.cmake b/boards/arc/emsdp/board.cmake
index cbeaea2e456..3e3df1c01f3 100644
--- a/boards/arc/emsdp/board.cmake
+++ b/boards/arc/emsdp/board.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
+board_runner_args(openocd "--use-elf")
 include(${ZEPHYR_BASE}/boards/common/openocd.board.cmake)
diff --git a/boards/arc/hsdk/board.cmake b/boards/arc/hsdk/board.cmake
index cbeaea2e456..3e3df1c01f3 100644
--- a/boards/arc/hsdk/board.cmake
+++ b/boards/arc/hsdk/board.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
+board_runner_args(openocd "--use-elf")
 include(${ZEPHYR_BASE}/boards/common/openocd.board.cmake)
diff --git a/boards/arc/iotdk/board.cmake b/boards/arc/iotdk/board.cmake
index cbeaea2e456..3e3df1c01f3 100644
--- a/boards/arc/iotdk/board.cmake
+++ b/boards/arc/iotdk/board.cmake
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
+board_runner_args(openocd "--use-elf")
 include(${ZEPHYR_BASE}/boards/common/openocd.board.cmake)