diff --git a/build/conf/local.conf b/build/conf/local.conf
index 57dc092993..b06165d030 100644
--- a/build/conf/local.conf
+++ b/build/conf/local.conf
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ IB_CONFIG:avz:verdin-imx8mp ?= "verdin-imx8mp_avz_defconfig"
 #   "full"       ATF + OP-TEE (BL32) + U-Boot in flash0.img — secure world.
 # The flash0.img assembly lives in meta-bsp/.../bsp_virt64.inc
 # (__do_platform_boot_chain); st.sh picks ATF vs bare from its presence.
-IB_BOOT_CHAIN = "full"
+IB_BOOT_CHAIN ?= ""
 
 # ATF / OP-TEE platform identifiers for QEMU virt (used when IB_BOOT_CHAIN
 # is "atf+uboot" or "full"). Mirrors edgem1's virt64 settings.