diff --git a/configs/qemu_mipsel_malta_defconfig b/configs/qemu_mipsel_malta_defconfig
index 99d9cbad4e..200b045fb6 100644
--- a/configs/qemu_mipsel_malta_defconfig
+++ b/configs/qemu_mipsel_malta_defconfig
@@ -6,10 +6,13 @@ BR2_mips_32r2=y
 BR2_TARGET_ROOTFS_EXT2=y
 # BR2_TARGET_ROOTFS_TAR is not set
 
+# Lock to 3.3 headers to avoid breaking with newer kernels
+BR2_KERNEL_HEADERS_3_3=y
+
 # Kernel
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="3.3"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="3.3.4"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="board/qemu/mipsel-malta/linux-3.3.config"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_VMLINUX=y