diff --git a/cheshire/Makefile b/cheshire/Makefile
index c0cb9dee7..b01a48747 100644
--- a/cheshire/Makefile
+++ b/cheshire/Makefile
@@ -5,14 +5,19 @@
 # Author: Moritz Imfeld <moimfeld@student.ethz.ch>
 #
 
-
 # Chshire root reposiotry
 MAKEFILE_DIR            := $(dir $(abspath $(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))))
-ARA_ROOT								:= $(MAKEFILE_DIR)/..
-BACKREF_CHS_ROOT        ?= ../../cheshire
+ARA_ROOT                := $(MAKEFILE_DIR)/..
+BACKREF_CHS_ROOT        ?= ../../../../..
 BACKREF_CHS_XIL_SCRIPTS := $(BACKREF_CHS_ROOT)/target/xilinx/scripts
+
+
+# Set up Bender targets and defines
+# default configuration for Cheshire + Ara is 2_lanes
+ARA_CONFIGURATION       ?= 2_lanes
+include $(ARA_ROOT)/config/$(ARA_CONFIGURATION).mk
 BOARD                   := vcu128
-CUSTOM_BENDER_TARGETS   := -t fpga -t cv64a6_imafdcv_sv39 -t cva6 -t $(BOARD) --define ARA
+CUSTOM_BENDER_TARGETS   := -t fpga -t cv64a6_imafdcv_sv39 -t cva6 -t $(BOARD) --define ARA --define NR_LANES=$(nr_lanes) --define VLEN=$(vlen)
 
 .PHONY: ara-chs-xilinx-$(BOARD) clean