diff --git a/package/binutils/Config.in.host b/package/binutils/Config.in.host
index 0840e8a85f..ef6aadb5ba 100644
--- a/package/binutils/Config.in.host
+++ b/package/binutils/Config.in.host
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@ comment "Binutils Options"
 
 choice
 	prompt "Binutils Version"
-	default BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_2_27_X
-	default BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_2_28_X if (BR2_arm && !BR2_USE_MMU)
+	default BR2_BINUTILS_VERSION_2_28_X
 	depends on !BR2_arc
 	help
 	  Select the version of binutils you wish to use.
diff --git a/package/binutils/binutils.mk b/package/binutils/binutils.mk
index 2e09ba7a9a..768f084111 100644
--- a/package/binutils/binutils.mk
+++ b/package/binutils/binutils.mk
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ ifeq ($(BINUTILS_VERSION),)
 ifeq ($(BR2_arc),y)
 BINUTILS_VERSION = arc-2017.03
 else
-BINUTILS_VERSION = 2.27
+BINUTILS_VERSION = 2.28.1
 endif
 endif # BINUTILS_VERSION