diff --git a/llvm/lib/Target/RISCV/MCTargetDesc/RISCVMCTargetDesc.cpp b/llvm/lib/Target/RISCV/MCTargetDesc/RISCVMCTargetDesc.cpp
--- a/llvm/lib/Target/RISCV/MCTargetDesc/RISCVMCTargetDesc.cpp
+++ b/llvm/lib/Target/RISCV/MCTargetDesc/RISCVMCTargetDesc.cpp
@@ -77,11 +77,8 @@
 
 static MCSubtargetInfo *createRISCVMCSubtargetInfo(const Triple &TT,
                                                    StringRef CPU, StringRef FS) {
-  if (CPU.empty())
+  if (CPU.empty() || CPU == "generic")
     CPU = TT.isArch64Bit() ? "generic-rv64" : "generic-rv32";
-  if (CPU == "generic")
-    report_fatal_error(Twine("CPU 'generic' is not supported. Use ") +
-                       (TT.isArch64Bit() ? "generic-rv64" : "generic-rv32"));
   return createRISCVMCSubtargetInfoImpl(TT, CPU, /*TuneCPU*/ CPU, FS);
 }
 
diff --git a/llvm/lib/Target/RISCV/RISCV.td b/llvm/lib/Target/RISCV/RISCV.td
--- a/llvm/lib/Target/RISCV/RISCV.td
+++ b/llvm/lib/Target/RISCV/RISCV.td
@@ -452,6 +452,9 @@
 
 def : ProcessorModel<"generic-rv32", NoSchedModel, []>;
 def : ProcessorModel<"generic-rv64", NoSchedModel, [Feature64Bit]>;
+// Support generic for compatibility with other targets. The triple will be used
+// to change to the appropriate rv32/rv64 version.
+def : ProcessorModel<"generic", NoSchedModel, []>;
 
 def : ProcessorModel<"rocket-rv32", RocketModel, []>;
 def : ProcessorModel<"rocket-rv64", RocketModel, [Feature64Bit]>;
diff --git a/llvm/lib/Target/RISCV/RISCVSubtarget.cpp b/llvm/lib/Target/RISCV/RISCVSubtarget.cpp
--- a/llvm/lib/Target/RISCV/RISCVSubtarget.cpp
+++ b/llvm/lib/Target/RISCV/RISCVSubtarget.cpp
@@ -69,11 +69,8 @@
                                                 StringRef ABIName) {
   // Determine default and user-specified characteristics
   bool Is64Bit = TT.isArch64Bit();
-  if (CPU.empty())
+  if (CPU.empty() || CPU == "generic")
     CPU = Is64Bit ? "generic-rv64" : "generic-rv32";
-  if (CPU == "generic")
-    report_fatal_error(Twine("CPU 'generic' is not supported. Use ") +
-                       (Is64Bit ? "generic-rv64" : "generic-rv32"));
 
   if (TuneCPU.empty())
     TuneCPU = CPU;