diff --git a/docs/user-guide.rst b/docs/user-guide.rst
index 043af63..1502c8c 100644
--- a/docs/user-guide.rst
+++ b/docs/user-guide.rst
@@ -405,6 +405,11 @@
    AArch64 and facilitates the loading of ``SP_MIN`` and BL33 as AArch32 executable
    images.
 
+-  ``KEY_ALG``: This build flag enables the user to select the algorithm to be
+   used for generating the PKCS keys and subsequent signing of the certificate.
+   It accepts 2 values viz ``rsa``, ``ecdsa``. The default value of this flag
+   is ``rsa``.
+
 -  ``LDFLAGS``: Extra user options appended to the linkers' command line in
    addition to the one set by the build system.
 
diff --git a/drivers/auth/mbedtls/mbedtls_crypto.mk b/drivers/auth/mbedtls/mbedtls_crypto.mk
index cb81d4d..3819716 100644
--- a/drivers/auth/mbedtls/mbedtls_crypto.mk
+++ b/drivers/auth/mbedtls/mbedtls_crypto.mk
@@ -7,9 +7,15 @@
 include drivers/auth/mbedtls/mbedtls_common.mk
 
 # The platform may define the variable 'TF_MBEDTLS_KEY_ALG' to select the key
-# algorithm to use. Default algorithm is RSA.
+# algorithm to use. If the variable is not defined, select it based on algorithm
+# used for key generation `KEY_ALG`. If `KEY_ALG` is not defined or is
+# defined to `rsa`, then set the variable to `rsa`.
 ifeq (${TF_MBEDTLS_KEY_ALG},)
-    TF_MBEDTLS_KEY_ALG		:=	rsa
+    ifeq (${KEY_ALG}, ecdsa)
+        TF_MBEDTLS_KEY_ALG		:=	ecdsa
+    else
+        TF_MBEDTLS_KEY_ALG		:=	rsa
+    endif
 endif
 
 # If MBEDTLS_KEY_ALG build flag is defined use it to set TF_MBEDTLS_KEY_ALG for
diff --git a/make_helpers/defaults.mk b/make_helpers/defaults.mk
index 302d937..8601046 100644
--- a/make_helpers/defaults.mk
+++ b/make_helpers/defaults.mk
@@ -81,6 +81,9 @@
 # operations.
 HW_ASSISTED_COHERENCY		:= 0
 
+# Set the default algorithm for the generation of Trusted Board Boot keys
+KEY_ALG				:= rsa
+
 # Flag to enable new version of image loading
 LOAD_IMAGE_V2			:= 0
 
diff --git a/plat/arm/common/arm_common.mk b/plat/arm/common/arm_common.mk
index 20372c2..af94ac2 100644
--- a/plat/arm/common/arm_common.mk
+++ b/plat/arm/common/arm_common.mk
@@ -174,9 +174,6 @@
 
 ifneq (${TRUSTED_BOARD_BOOT},0)
 
-    # By default, ARM platforms use RSA keys
-    KEY_ALG		:=	rsa
-
     # Include common TBB sources
     AUTH_SOURCES	:=	drivers/auth/auth_mod.c				\
 				drivers/auth/crypto_mod.c			\
@@ -195,8 +192,6 @@
 
     $(eval $(call FWU_FIP_ADD_IMG,NS_BL2U,--fwu))
 
-    TF_MBEDTLS_KEY_ALG	:=	${KEY_ALG}
-
     # We expect to locate the *.mk files under the directories specified below
 ifeq (${ARM_CRYPTOCELL_INTEG},0)
     CRYPTO_LIB_MK := drivers/auth/mbedtls/mbedtls_crypto.mk