diff --git a/configs/config-suite-b.h b/configs/config-suite-b.h
index 28e644312..b62bdfabd 100644
--- a/configs/config-suite-b.h
+++ b/configs/config-suite-b.h
@@ -84,8 +84,7 @@
 #define MBEDTLS_AES_ROM_TABLES
 
 /* Save RAM by adjusting to our exact needs */
-#define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS   384
-#define MBEDTLS_MPI_MAX_SIZE    48 // 384 bits is 48 bytes
+#define MBEDTLS_MPI_MAX_SIZE    48 // 384-bit EC curve = 48 bytes
 
 /* Save RAM at the expense of speed, see ecp.h */
 #define MBEDTLS_ECP_WINDOW_SIZE        2
diff --git a/configs/config-thread.h b/configs/config-thread.h
index bce9668fd..c1937de80 100644
--- a/configs/config-thread.h
+++ b/configs/config-thread.h
@@ -85,8 +85,7 @@
 #define MBEDTLS_AES_ROM_TABLES
 
 /* Save RAM by adjusting to our exact needs */
-#define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS             256
-#define MBEDTLS_MPI_MAX_SIZE              32 // 256 bits is 32 bytes
+#define MBEDTLS_MPI_MAX_SIZE              32 // 256-bit EC curve = 32 bytes
 
 /* Save ROM and a few bytes of RAM by specifying our own ciphersuite list */
 #define MBEDTLS_SSL_CIPHERSUITES MBEDTLS_TLS_ECJPAKE_WITH_AES_128_CCM_8
diff --git a/include/mbedtls/config.h b/include/mbedtls/config.h
index 3139b223d..57783f8be 100644
--- a/include/mbedtls/config.h
+++ b/include/mbedtls/config.h
@@ -3155,7 +3155,6 @@
 //#define MBEDTLS_HMAC_DRBG_MAX_SEED_INPUT      384 /**< Maximum size of (re)seed buffer */
 
 /* ECP options */
-//#define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS             521 /**< Maximum bit size of groups */
 //#define MBEDTLS_ECP_WINDOW_SIZE            6 /**< Maximum window size used */
 //#define MBEDTLS_ECP_FIXED_POINT_OPTIM      1 /**< Enable fixed-point speed-up */
 
diff --git a/include/mbedtls/ecp.h b/include/mbedtls/ecp.h
index 8cb4fb4a5..dceca3ef9 100644
--- a/include/mbedtls/ecp.h
+++ b/include/mbedtls/ecp.h
@@ -242,13 +242,6 @@ mbedtls_ecp_group;
  * \{
  */
 
-#if !defined(MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS)
-/**
- * The maximum size of the groups, that is, of \c N and \c P.
- */
-#define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS     521   /**< The maximum size of groups, in bits. */
-#endif
-
 #if !defined(MBEDTLS_ECP_WINDOW_SIZE)
 /*
  * Maximum "window" size used for point multiplication.
@@ -294,6 +287,44 @@ mbedtls_ecp_group;
 #include "ecp_alt.h"
 #endif /* MBEDTLS_ECP_ALT */
 
+/**
+ * The maximum size of the groups, that is, of \c N and \c P.
+ */
+#if !defined(MBEDTLS_ECP_C)
+/* Dummy definition to help code that has optional ECP support and
+ * defines an MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BYTES-sized array unconditionally. */
+#define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS 1
+/* Note: the curves must be listed in DECREASING size! */
+#elif defined(MBEDTLS_ECP_DP_SECP521R1_ENABLED)
+#define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS 521
+#elif defined(MBEDTLS_ECP_DP_BP512R1_ENABLED)
+#define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS 512
+#elif defined(MBEDTLS_ECP_DP_CURVE448_ENABLED)
+#define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS 448
+#elif defined(MBEDTLS_ECP_DP_BP384R1_ENABLED)
+#define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS 384
+#elif defined(MBEDTLS_ECP_DP_SECP384R1_ENABLED)
+#define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS 384
+#elif defined(MBEDTLS_ECP_DP_BP256R1_ENABLED)
+#define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS 256
+#elif defined(MBEDTLS_ECP_DP_SECP256K1_ENABLED)
+#define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS 256
+#elif defined(MBEDTLS_ECP_DP_SECP256R1_ENABLED)
+#define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS 256
+#elif defined(MBEDTLS_ECP_DP_CURVE25519_ENABLED)
+#define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS 255
+#elif defined(MBEDTLS_ECP_DP_SECP224K1_ENABLED)
+#define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS 225 // n is slightly above 2^224
+#elif defined(MBEDTLS_ECP_DP_SECP224R1_ENABLED)
+#define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS 224
+#elif defined(MBEDTLS_ECP_DP_SECP192K1_ENABLED)
+#define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS 192
+#elif defined(MBEDTLS_ECP_DP_SECP192R1_ENABLED)
+#define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS 192
+#else
+#error "Missing definition of MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS"
+#endif
+
 #define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BYTES    ( ( MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BITS + 7 ) / 8 )
 #define MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_PT_LEN   ( 2 * MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BYTES + 1 )