diff --git a/config/arm/arm64_armada_linux_gcc b/config/arm/arm64_armada_linux_gcc
index 143a3c9f8..2ecc4604c 100644
--- a/config/arm/arm64_armada_linux_gcc
+++ b/config/arm/arm64_armada_linux_gcc
@@ -16,3 +16,5 @@ endian = 'little'
 [properties]
 implementer_id = '0x56'
 part_number = '0xd08'
+max_lcores = 16
+max_numa_nodes = 1
diff --git a/config/arm/arm64_armv8_linux_gcc b/config/arm/arm64_armv8_linux_gcc
index 0099f5ca2..5451a01da 100644
--- a/config/arm/arm64_armv8_linux_gcc
+++ b/config/arm/arm64_armv8_linux_gcc
@@ -16,3 +16,5 @@ endian = 'little'
 # Generate binaries that are portable across all Armv8 machines
 implementer_id = 'generic'
 part_number = 'generic'
+max_lcores = 256
+max_numa_nodes = 4
diff --git a/config/arm/arm64_bluefield_linux_gcc b/config/arm/arm64_bluefield_linux_gcc
index b79389d85..4f56790c5 100644
--- a/config/arm/arm64_bluefield_linux_gcc
+++ b/config/arm/arm64_bluefield_linux_gcc
@@ -15,3 +15,5 @@ endian = 'little'
 [properties]
 implementer_id = '0x41'
 part_number = '0xd08'
+max_lcores = 16
+max_numa_nodes = 1
diff --git a/config/arm/arm64_dpaa_linux_gcc b/config/arm/arm64_dpaa_linux_gcc
index c3c8a1ef6..8641fee63 100644
--- a/config/arm/arm64_dpaa_linux_gcc
+++ b/config/arm/arm64_dpaa_linux_gcc
@@ -16,3 +16,5 @@ endian = 'little'
 [properties]
 implementer_id = 'dpaa'
 part_number = '0xd08'
+max_lcores = 16
+max_numa_nodes = 1
diff --git a/config/arm/arm64_emag_linux_gcc b/config/arm/arm64_emag_linux_gcc
index c675954fc..7cbb05510 100644
--- a/config/arm/arm64_emag_linux_gcc
+++ b/config/arm/arm64_emag_linux_gcc
@@ -15,3 +15,5 @@ endian = 'little'
 [properties]
 implementer_id = '0x50'
 part_number = '0x0'
+max_lcores = 32
+max_numa_nodes = 1
diff --git a/config/arm/arm64_graviton2_linux_gcc b/config/arm/arm64_graviton2_linux_gcc
index 022e06303..d0bfec87d 100644
--- a/config/arm/arm64_graviton2_linux_gcc
+++ b/config/arm/arm64_graviton2_linux_gcc
@@ -15,3 +15,5 @@ endian = 'little'
 [properties]
 implementor_id = '0x41'
 implementor_pn = '0xd0c'
+max_lcores = 64
+max_numa_nodes = 1
diff --git a/config/arm/arm64_n1sdp_linux_gcc b/config/arm/arm64_n1sdp_linux_gcc
index 6fb3f02ea..138ae08c3 100644
--- a/config/arm/arm64_n1sdp_linux_gcc
+++ b/config/arm/arm64_n1sdp_linux_gcc
@@ -15,3 +15,5 @@ endian = 'little'
 [properties]
 implementer_id = '0x41'
 part_number = '0xd0c'
+max_lcores = 4
+max_numa_nodes = 1
diff --git a/config/arm/arm64_octeontx2_linux_gcc b/config/arm/arm64_octeontx2_linux_gcc
index ac1042806..26cf471ad 100644
--- a/config/arm/arm64_octeontx2_linux_gcc
+++ b/config/arm/arm64_octeontx2_linux_gcc
@@ -15,3 +15,5 @@ endian = 'little'
 [properties]
 implementer_id = '0x43'
 part_number = '0xb2'
+max_lcores = 36
+max_numa_nodes = 1
diff --git a/config/arm/arm64_stingray_linux_gcc b/config/arm/arm64_stingray_linux_gcc
index b79389d85..4f56790c5 100644
--- a/config/arm/arm64_stingray_linux_gcc
+++ b/config/arm/arm64_stingray_linux_gcc
@@ -15,3 +15,5 @@ endian = 'little'
 [properties]
 implementer_id = '0x41'
 part_number = '0xd08'
+max_lcores = 16
+max_numa_nodes = 1
diff --git a/config/arm/arm64_thunderx2_linux_gcc b/config/arm/arm64_thunderx2_linux_gcc
index dd257745e..c06dcdc2b 100644
--- a/config/arm/arm64_thunderx2_linux_gcc
+++ b/config/arm/arm64_thunderx2_linux_gcc
@@ -15,3 +15,5 @@ endian = 'little'
 [properties]
 implementer_id = '0x43'
 part_number = '0xaf'
+max_lcores = 256
+max_numa_nodes = 2
diff --git a/config/arm/arm64_thunderxt88_linux_gcc b/config/arm/arm64_thunderxt88_linux_gcc
index 758966262..3ba1528e4 100644
--- a/config/arm/arm64_thunderxt88_linux_gcc
+++ b/config/arm/arm64_thunderxt88_linux_gcc
@@ -15,3 +15,5 @@ endian = 'little'
 [properties]
 implementer_id = '0x43'
 part_number = '0xa1'
+max_lcores = 96
+max_numa_nodes = 1
diff --git a/config/arm/meson.build b/config/arm/meson.build
index 4508f369c..375a804ac 100644
--- a/config/arm/meson.build
+++ b/config/arm/meson.build
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ implementer_generic = {
 		['RTE_MACHINE', '"armv8a"'],
 		['RTE_USE_C11_MEM_MODEL', true],
 		['RTE_CACHE_LINE_SIZE', 128],
-		['RTE_MAX_LCORE', 256]
+		['RTE_MAX_LCORE', 256],
+		['RTE_MAX_NUMA_NODES', 4]
 	],
 	'part_number_config': {
 		'generic': {'machine_args': ['-march=armv8-a+crc',
@@ -75,7 +76,8 @@ implementer_arm = {
 		['RTE_MACHINE', '"armv8a"'],
 		['RTE_USE_C11_MEM_MODEL', true],
 		['RTE_CACHE_LINE_SIZE', 64],
-		['RTE_MAX_LCORE', 16]
+		['RTE_MAX_LCORE', 16],
+		['RTE_MAX_NUMA_NODES', 1]
 	],
 	'part_number_config': part_number_config_arm
 }
diff --git a/config/meson.build b/config/meson.build
index a3154e29c..19c743091 100644
--- a/config/meson.build
+++ b/config/meson.build
@@ -253,6 +253,21 @@ compile_time_cpuflags = []
 subdir(arch_subdir)
 dpdk_conf.set('RTE_COMPILE_TIME_CPUFLAGS', ','.join(compile_time_cpuflags))
 
+# apply cross-specific options
+if meson.is_cross_build()
+	# configure RTE_MAX_LCORE and RTE_MAX_NUMA_NODES from cross file
+	cross_max_lcores = meson.get_cross_property('max_lcores', 0)
+	if cross_max_lcores != 0
+		message('Setting RTE_MAX_LCORE from cross file')
+		dpdk_conf.set('RTE_MAX_LCORE', cross_max_lcores)
+	endif
+	cross_max_numa_nodes = meson.get_cross_property('max_numa_nodes', 0)
+	if cross_max_numa_nodes != 0
+		message('Setting RTE_MAX_NUMA_NODES from cross file')
+		dpdk_conf.set('RTE_MAX_NUMA_NODES', cross_max_numa_nodes)
+	endif
+endif
+
 # set the install path for the drivers
 dpdk_conf.set_quoted('RTE_EAL_PMD_PATH', eal_pmd_path)
 
diff --git a/doc/guides/linux_gsg/cross_build_dpdk_for_arm64.rst b/doc/guides/linux_gsg/cross_build_dpdk_for_arm64.rst
index 6a883b030..4e65b271c 100644
--- a/doc/guides/linux_gsg/cross_build_dpdk_for_arm64.rst
+++ b/doc/guides/linux_gsg/cross_build_dpdk_for_arm64.rst
@@ -134,3 +134,12 @@ you may use various combinations of implementer/part number::
 
    Supported part_numbers for 0x50:
       '0x0':     emag
+
+Other cross file options
+------------------------
+
+There are other options you may specify in a cross file to tailor the build::
+
+   Supported extra configuration
+      max_numa_nodes = n  # will set RTE_MAX_NUMA_NODES
+      max_lcores = n      # will set RTE_MAX_LCORE
