diff --git a/hw/arm/sbsa-ref.c b/hw/arm/sbsa-ref.c
index 0b93558dde..a1562f944a 100644
--- a/hw/arm/sbsa-ref.c
+++ b/hw/arm/sbsa-ref.c
@@ -852,7 +852,7 @@ static void sbsa_ref_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
 
     mc->init = sbsa_ref_init;
     mc->desc = "QEMU 'SBSA Reference' ARM Virtual Machine";
-    mc->default_cpu_type = ARM_CPU_TYPE_NAME("cortex-a57");
+    mc->default_cpu_type = ARM_CPU_TYPE_NAME("neoverse-n1");
     mc->max_cpus = 512;
     mc->pci_allow_0_address = true;
     mc->minimum_page_bits = 12;