diff --git a/.github/workflows/unit-tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/unit-tests.yaml
index abd82c05472..3d4a7564ce8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/unit-tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/unit-tests.yaml
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ jobs:
         config:
           - name: "Aarch64 actuated testing"
             flb_option: "-DFLB_WITHOUT_flb-it-network=1 -DFLB_WITHOUT_flb-it-fstore=1"
-            omit_option: "-DFLB_WITHOUT_flb-it-utils=1 -DFLB_WITHOUT_flb-it-pack=1"
+            omit_option: ""
             global_option: "-DFLB_BACKTRACE=Off -DFLB_SHARED_LIB=Off -DFLB_DEBUG=On -DFLB_ALL=On -DFLB_EXAMPLES=Off"
             unit_test_option: "-DFLB_TESTS_INTERNAL=On"
             compiler: gcc
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index de5b5973974..08ecfb7ad94 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ endif()
 if(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME MATCHES "Linux")
   set(FLB_SYSTEM_LINUX On)
   add_definitions(-DFLB_SYSTEM_LINUX)
+  if (CMAKE_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR MATCHES "^(arm64|aarch64)")
+    set(FLB_LINUX_ON_AARCH64 On)
+    add_definitions(-DFLB_LINUX_ON_AARCH64)
+  endif()
 endif()
 
 # Update CFLAGS
@@ -317,6 +321,12 @@ if (FLB_SYSTEM_LINUX)
   include(cmake/s390x.cmake)
 endif ()
 
+# Enable signed char support on Linux AARCH64 if specified
+if (FLB_LINUX_ON_AARCH64)
+  set (CMAKE_C_FLAGS "${CMAKE_C_FLAGS} -fsigned-char")
+  message(STATUS "Enabling signed char")
+endif()
+
 # Extract Git commit information for debug output.
 # Note that this is only set when cmake is run, the intent here is to use in CI for verification of releases so is acceptable.
 # For a better solution see https://jonathanhamberg.com/post/cmake-embedding-git-hash/ but this is simple and easy.