diff --git a/examples/performance-thread/Makefile b/examples/performance-thread/Makefile
index d19f8489e..0c5edfdb9 100644
--- a/examples/performance-thread/Makefile
+++ b/examples/performance-thread/Makefile
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ RTE_TARGET ?= x86_64-native-linuxapp-gcc
 
 include $(RTE_SDK)/mk/rte.vars.mk
 
-ifneq ($(CONFIG_RTE_ARCH),"x86_64")
-$(error This application is only supported for x86_64 targets)
+ifeq ($(filter y,$(CONFIG_RTE_ARCH_X86_64) $(CONFIG_RTE_ARCH_ARM64)),)
+$(error This application is only supported for x86_64 and arm64 targets)
 endif
 
 DIRS-y += l3fwd-thread
diff --git a/examples/performance-thread/common/arch/arm64/ctx.c b/examples/performance-thread/common/arch/arm64/ctx.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7073cfd75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/performance-thread/common/arch/arm64/ctx.c
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+/*
+ *   BSD LICENSE
+ *
+ *   Copyright (C) Cavium networks Ltd. 2017.
+ *
+ *   Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ *   modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ *   are met:
+ *
+ *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+ *       the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ *       distribution.
+ *     * Neither the name of Cavium networks nor the names of its
+ *       contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+ *       from this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ *   THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ *   "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ *   LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ *   A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ *   OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ *   SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ *   LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ *   DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ *   THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ *   (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ *   OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+/*
+ * https://github.com/halayli/lthread which carries the following license.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2012, Hasan Alayli <halayli@gmail.com>
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ *    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND
+ * ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+ * IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+ * ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+ * FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+ * DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
+ * OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
+ * HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
+ * LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
+ * OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
+ * SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+#include <rte_common.h>
+#include <ctx.h>
+
+void
+ctx_switch(struct ctx *new_ctx __rte_unused, struct ctx *curr_ctx __rte_unused)
+{
+	/* SAVE CURRENT CONTEXT */
+	asm volatile (
+			/* Save SP */
+			"mov x3, sp\n"
+			"str x3, [x1, #0]\n"
+
+			/* Save FP and LR */
+			"stp x29, x30, [x1, #8]\n"
+
+			/* Save Callee Saved Regs x19 - x28 */
+			"stp x19, x20, [x1, #24]\n"
+			"stp x21, x22, [x1, #40]\n"
+			"stp x23, x24, [x1, #56]\n"
+			"stp x25, x26, [x1, #72]\n"
+			"stp x27, x28, [x1, #88]\n"
+		     );
+
+	/* RESTORE NEW CONTEXT */
+	asm volatile (
+			/* Restore SP */
+			"ldr x3, [x0, #0]\n"
+			"mov sp, x3\n"
+
+			/* Restore FP and LR */
+			"ldp x29, x30, [x0, #8]\n"
+
+			/* Restore Callee Saved Regs x19 - x28 */
+			"ldp x19, x20, [x0, #24]\n"
+			"ldp x21, x22, [x0, #40]\n"
+			"ldp x23, x24, [x0, #56]\n"
+			"ldp x25, x26, [x0, #72]\n"
+			"ldp x27, x28, [x0, #88]\n"
+		     );
+}
diff --git a/examples/performance-thread/common/arch/arm64/ctx.h b/examples/performance-thread/common/arch/arm64/ctx.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..27a124d1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/performance-thread/common/arch/arm64/ctx.h
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+/*
+ *   BSD LICENSE
+ *
+ *   Copyright (C) Cavium networks Ltd. 2017.
+ *
+ *   Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ *   modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ *   are met:
+ *
+ *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+ *       the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ *       distribution.
+ *     * Neither the name of Cavium networks nor the names of its
+ *       contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+ *       from this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ *   THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ *   "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ *   LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ *   A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ *   OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ *   SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ *   LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ *   DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ *   THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ *   (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ *   OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+/*
+ * https://github.com/halayli/lthread which carries the following license.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2012, Hasan Alayli <halayli@gmail.com>
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ *    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND
+ * ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+ * IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+ * ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+ * FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+ * DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
+ * OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
+ * HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
+ * LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
+ * OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
+ * SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+#ifndef CTX_H
+#define CTX_H
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+/*
+ * CPU context registers
+ */
+struct ctx {
+	void	*sp;		/* 0  */
+	void	*fp;		/* 8 */
+	void	*lr;		/* 16  */
+	void	*r19;		/* 24 */
+	void	*r20;		/* 32 */
+	void	*r21;		/* 40 */
+	void	*r22;		/* 48 */
+	void	*r23;		/* 56 */
+	void	*r24;		/* 64 */
+	void	*r25;		/* 72 */
+	void	*r26;		/* 80 */
+	void	*r27;		/* 88 */
+	void	*r28;		/* 96 */
+};
+
+
+void
+ctx_switch(struct ctx *new_ctx, struct ctx *curr_ctx);
+
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+
+#endif /* RTE_CTX_H_ */
diff --git a/examples/performance-thread/common/arch/arm64/stack.h b/examples/performance-thread/common/arch/arm64/stack.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1e7c6444c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/performance-thread/common/arch/arm64/stack.h
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+/*
+ *   BSD LICENSE
+ *
+ *   Copyright (C) Cavium networks Ltd. 2017.
+ *
+ *   Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ *   modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ *   are met:
+ *
+ *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+ *       the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ *       distribution.
+ *     * Neither the name of Cavium networks nor the names of its
+ *       contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+ *       from this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ *   THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ *   "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ *   LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ *   A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ *   OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ *   SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ *   LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ *   DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ *   THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ *   (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ *   OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+/*
+ * https://github.com/halayli/lthread which carries the following license.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2012, Hasan Alayli <halayli@gmail.com>
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ *    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND
+ * ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+ * IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+ * ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+ * FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+ * DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
+ * OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
+ * HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
+ * LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
+ * OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
+ * SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+#ifndef STACK_H
+#define STACK_H
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+#include "lthread_int.h"
+
+/*
+ * Sets up the initial stack for the lthread.
+ */
+static inline void
+arch_set_stack(struct lthread *lt, void *func)
+{
+	void **stack_top = (void *)((char *)(lt->stack) + lt->stack_size);
+
+	/*
+	 * Align stack_top to 16 bytes. Arm64 has the constraint that the
+	 * stack pointer must always be quad-word aligned.
+	 */
+	stack_top = (void **)(((unsigned long)(stack_top)) & ~0xfUL);
+
+	/*
+	 * First Stack Frame
+	 */
+	stack_top[0] = NULL;
+	stack_top[-1] = NULL;
+
+	/*
+	 * Initialize the context
+	 */
+	lt->ctx.fp = &stack_top[-1];
+	lt->ctx.sp = &stack_top[-2];
+
+	/*
+	 * Here only the address of _lthread_exec is saved as the link
+	 * register value. The argument to _lthread_exec i.e the address of
+	 * the lthread struct is not saved. This is because the first
+	 * argument to ctx_switch is the address of the new context,
+	 * which also happens to be the address of required lthread struct.
+	 * So while returning from ctx_switch into _thread_exec, parameter
+	 * register x0 will always contain the required value.
+	 */
+	lt->ctx.lr = func;
+}
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+
+#endif /* STACK_H_ */
diff --git a/examples/performance-thread/common/common.mk b/examples/performance-thread/common/common.mk
index 532dbf61d..f1f05fdde 100644
--- a/examples/performance-thread/common/common.mk
+++ b/examples/performance-thread/common/common.mk
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ MKFILE_PATH=$(abspath $(dir $(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))))
 
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_RTE_ARCH_X86_64),y)
 ARCH_PATH += $(MKFILE_PATH)/arch/x86
+else ifeq ($(CONFIG_RTE_ARCH_ARM64),y)
+ARCH_PATH += $(MKFILE_PATH)/arch/arm64
 endif
 
 VPATH := $(MKFILE_PATH) $(ARCH_PATH)
diff --git a/examples/performance-thread/l3fwd-thread/main.c b/examples/performance-thread/l3fwd-thread/main.c
index 2d98473eb..3d9739e91 100644
--- a/examples/performance-thread/l3fwd-thread/main.c
+++ b/examples/performance-thread/l3fwd-thread/main.c
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ static uint16_t nb_txd = RTE_TEST_TX_DESC_DEFAULT;
 static uint64_t dest_eth_addr[RTE_MAX_ETHPORTS];
 static struct ether_addr ports_eth_addr[RTE_MAX_ETHPORTS];
 
-static __m128i val_eth[RTE_MAX_ETHPORTS];
+static xmm_t val_eth[RTE_MAX_ETHPORTS];
 
 /* replace first 12B of the ethernet header. */
 #define	MASK_ETH 0x3f
