diff --git a/edalize/tools/vcs.py b/edalize/tools/vcs.py
index 29097546..3b9d3958 100644
--- a/edalize/tools/vcs.py
+++ b/edalize/tools/vcs.py
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ class Vcs(Edatool):
     description = "VCS simulator from Synopsys"
 
     TOOL_OPTIONS = {
+        "default_options": {
+            "type": "str",
+            "desc": "Default options for vlogan/vhdlan/vcs. Defaults to '-full64'",
+            "list": True,
+        },
         "vlogan_options": {
             "type": "str",
             "desc": "Additional options for analysis with vlogan",
@@ -56,6 +61,7 @@ def setup(self, edam):
         user_files = []
         commands = {}
         libs = {}
+        has_sv = False
         for f in unused_files.copy():
             lib = f.get("logical_name", "work")
 
@@ -64,6 +70,9 @@ def setup(self, edam):
                 "systemVerilogSource"
             ):
 
+                if file_type.startswith("systemVerilogSource"):
+                    has_sv = True
+
                 vlog_defines = self.vlogdefine.copy()
                 vlog_defines.update(f.get("define", {}))
 
@@ -96,6 +105,7 @@ def setup(self, edam):
                 commands[(cmd, lib, defines)].append(f["name"])
                 unused_files.remove(f)
 
+        default_options = self.tool_options.get("default_options", ["-full64"])
         self.commands = EdaCommands()
         for lib, files in libs.items():
             cmds = {}
@@ -111,8 +121,10 @@ def setup(self, edam):
                     has_vlog = True
             commands = [["mkdir", lib]]
             for (cmd, defines), fnames in cmds.items():
-                options = []
+                options = default_options.copy()
                 if cmd == "vlogan":
+                    if has_sv:
+                        options.append("-sverilog")
                     options += self.tool_options.get("vlogan_options", [])
                     options += [defines]
                     options += ["+incdir+" + d for d in incdirs]
@@ -133,6 +145,7 @@ def setup(self, edam):
 
         self.commands.add(
             ["vcs", "-o", self.name, "-top", self.toplevel]
+            + default_options
             + self.tool_options.get("vcs_options", [])
             + parameters,
             [self.name],