diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ee5e2e7a8..5916963b5 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -399,6 +399,8 @@ TF_CFLAGS		+=	$(CPPFLAGS) $(TF_CFLAGS_$(ARCH))		\
 				-ffreestanding -fno-builtin -fno-common		\
 				-Os -std=gnu99
 
+$(eval $(call add_define,SVE_VECTOR_LEN))
+
 ifeq (${SANITIZE_UB},on)
 TF_CFLAGS		+=	-fsanitize=undefined -fno-sanitize-recover
 endif
@@ -1085,6 +1087,7 @@ $(eval $(call assert_numerics,\
         RAS_EXTENSION \
         TWED_DELAY \
         ENABLE_FEAT_TWED \
+        SVE_VECTOR_LEN \
 )))
 
 ifdef KEY_SIZE
diff --git a/docs/getting_started/build-options.rst b/docs/getting_started/build-options.rst
index 26d545805..b4d340700 100644
--- a/docs/getting_started/build-options.rst
+++ b/docs/getting_started/build-options.rst
@@ -834,6 +834,14 @@ Common build options
    to mask these events. Platforms that enable FIQ handling in SP_MIN shall
    implement the api ``sp_min_plat_fiq_handler()``. The default value is 0.
 
+-  ``SVE_VECTOR_LEN``: SVE vector length to configure in ZCR_EL3.
+   Platforms can configure this if they need to lower the hardware
+   limit, for example due to asymmetric configuration or limitations of
+   software run at lower ELs. The default is the architectural maximum
+   of 2048 which should be suitable for most configurations, the
+   hardware will limit the effective VL to the maximum physically supported
+   VL.
+
 -  ``TRUSTED_BOARD_BOOT``: Boolean flag to include support for the Trusted Board
    Boot feature. When set to '1', BL1 and BL2 images include support to load
    and verify the certificates and images in a FIP, and BL1 includes support
diff --git a/lib/extensions/sve/sve.c b/lib/extensions/sve/sve.c
index aa8904b9b..f7dcc767a 100644
--- a/lib/extensions/sve/sve.c
+++ b/lib/extensions/sve/sve.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright (c) 2017-2021, ARM Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+ * Copyright (c) 2017-2022, ARM Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
  *
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
  */
@@ -8,9 +8,14 @@
 
 #include <arch.h>
 #include <arch_helpers.h>
+#include <lib/cassert.h>
 #include <lib/el3_runtime/pubsub.h>
 #include <lib/extensions/sve.h>
 
+CASSERT(SVE_VECTOR_LEN <= 2048, assert_sve_vl_too_long);
+CASSERT(SVE_VECTOR_LEN >= 128, assert_sve_vl_too_short);
+CASSERT((SVE_VECTOR_LEN % 128) == 0, assert_sve_vl_granule);
+
 /*
  * Converts SVE vector size restriction in bytes to LEN according to ZCR_EL3 documentation.
  * VECTOR_SIZE = (LEN+1) * 128
@@ -39,9 +44,9 @@ void sve_enable(cpu_context_t *context)
 	cptr_el3 = (cptr_el3 | CPTR_EZ_BIT) & ~(TFP_BIT);
 	write_ctx_reg(get_el3state_ctx(context), CTX_CPTR_EL3, cptr_el3);
 
-	/* Restrict maximum SVE vector length (SVE_VECTOR_LENGTH+1) * 128. */
+	/* Restrict maximum SVE vector length (SVE_VECTOR_LEN+1) * 128. */
 	write_ctx_reg(get_el3state_ctx(context), CTX_ZCR_EL3,
-		(ZCR_EL3_LEN_MASK & CONVERT_SVE_LENGTH(512)));
+		(ZCR_EL3_LEN_MASK & CONVERT_SVE_LENGTH(SVE_VECTOR_LEN)));
 }
 
 void sve_disable(cpu_context_t *context)
diff --git a/make_helpers/defaults.mk b/make_helpers/defaults.mk
index fab6bf6da..37f6fa9aa 100644
--- a/make_helpers/defaults.mk
+++ b/make_helpers/defaults.mk
@@ -373,6 +373,9 @@ ifeq (${ARCH},aarch32)
 endif
 ENABLE_SVE_FOR_SWD		:= 0
 
+# Default SVE vector length to maximum architected value
+SVE_VECTOR_LEN			:= 2048
+
 # SME defaults to disabled
 ENABLE_SME_FOR_NS		:= 0
 ENABLE_SME_FOR_SWD		:= 0