diff --git a/make_helpers/defaults.mk b/make_helpers/defaults.mk
index 7220a5d76..bc4982d64 100644
--- a/make_helpers/defaults.mk
+++ b/make_helpers/defaults.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2016-2020, ARM Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2016-2020, ARM Limited. All rights reserved.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
@@ -150,6 +150,10 @@ GICV2_G0_FOR_EL3		:= 0
 # by lower ELs.
 HANDLE_EA_EL3_FIRST		:= 0
 
+# Secure hash algorithm flag, accepts 3 values: sha256, sha384 and sha512.
+# The default value is sha256.
+HASH_ALG			:= sha256
+
 # Whether system coherency is managed in hardware, without explicit software
 # operations.
 HW_ASSISTED_COHERENCY		:= 0