diff --git a/.github/workflows/tools-buildtest.yml b/.github/workflows/tools-buildtest.yml
index fcdc4cb468..fee41ab581 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tools-buildtest.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tools-buildtest.yml
@@ -67,3 +67,7 @@ jobs:
       uses: aabadie/riot-action@v1
       with:
         cmd: make -C dist/tools/fixdep
+    - name: Build lpc2k_pgm tool
+      uses: aabadie/riot-action@v1
+      with:
+        cmd: make -C dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/Makefile.include b/boards/common/msba2/Makefile.include
index a029a1153b..341d2dd5a2 100644
--- a/boards/common/msba2/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/common/msba2/Makefile.include
@@ -1,26 +1,13 @@
-BOARDS_COMMON_MSBA2_DIR := $(patsubst %/,%,$(dir $(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))))
-
-# Compile `lpc2k_pgm` when required
-# It is still compiling in `boards` as it was the case before introducing the
-# rule to autobuild
-MSBA2_TOOLS = $(BOARDS_COMMON_MSBA2_DIR)/tools
-LPC2K_PGM = $(MSBA2_TOOLS)/bin/lpc2k_pgm
-$(LPC2K_PGM): FORCE
-	env -i PATH=$(PATH) $(MAKE) -C $(MSBA2_TOOLS)
-FLASHDEPS += $(if $(findstring $(LPC2K_PGM),$(FLASHER)),$(LPC2K_PGM))
-
-FLASHER ?= $(LPC2K_PGM)
-
 # configure serial interface
 PORT_LINUX ?= /dev/ttyUSB0
 # This does not make a lot of sense, but it has the same value as the previous code
 PORT_DARWIN ?= /dev/tty.usbserial-ARM
 
+# Use lpc2k_pgm programmer
+PROGRAMMER ?= lpc2k_pgm
+
 # when using miniterm set RTS and DTR lines to 0, otherwise the board is reset
 MINITERMFLAGS += --rts 0 --dtr 0
 
 PYTERMFLAGS += -tg
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/tools/serial.inc.mk
-
-FLASHFILE ?= $(HEXFILE)
-FFLAGS = $(PROG_DEV) $(FLASHFILE)
diff --git a/dist/tools/externc/check.sh b/dist/tools/externc/check.sh
index a8a9cd791e..2c6044c026 100755
--- a/dist/tools/externc/check.sh
+++ b/dist/tools/externc/check.sh
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ cd $RIOTBASE
 ROOT=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)
 EXIT_CODE=0
 
-FILES=$(FILEREGEX='\.h$' changed_files)
+EXCLUDE='^(dist/tools/)'
+FILES=$(FILEREGEX='\.h$' EXCLUDE=${EXCLUDE} changed_files)
 
 # check files
 for FILE in ${FILES}; do
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/CHANGES b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/CHANGES
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/CHANGES
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/CHANGES
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/COPYING b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/COPYING
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/COPYING
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/COPYING
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/Makefile b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/Makefile
similarity index 94%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/Makefile
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/Makefile
index 77948c3baa..b55fd41cf9 100644
--- a/boards/common/msba2/tools/Makefile
+++ b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-CFLAGS += -O0 -g3 -Wall -c -fmessage-length=0 -MMD -MP -MF"$(@:%.o=%.d)" -MT"$(@:%.o=%.d)"
+CFLAGS = -O0 -g3 -Wall -c -fmessage-length=0 -MMD -MP -MF"$(@:%.o=%.d)" -MT"$(@:%.o=%.d)"
 CC = gcc
 prefix=/usr/local
 
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/README.txt b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/README.txt
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/README.txt
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/README.txt
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/armtools.txt b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/armtools.txt
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/armtools.txt
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/armtools.txt
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/flash.cmd b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/flash.cmd
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/flash.cmd
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/flash.cmd
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/flashutil.sh b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/flashutil.sh
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/flashutil.sh
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/flashutil.sh
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/mkbootc b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/mkbootc
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/mkbootc
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/mkbootc
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/mkstaticlist b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/mkstaticlist
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/mkstaticlist
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/mkstaticlist
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/obj/.gitignore b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/obj/.gitignore
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/obj/.gitignore
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/obj/.gitignore
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/boot.h b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/boot.h
similarity index 94%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/boot.h
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/boot.h
index 323e7d16a3..43ea7802c7 100644
--- a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/boot.h
+++ b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/boot.h
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@
  * 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
  */
 
+#ifndef BOOT_H
+#define BOOT_H
+
 /**
  * @brief structure to hold boot partition
  */
@@ -24,3 +27,5 @@ typedef struct {
     int size;           /**< size of partition */
     const int *prog;    /**< partition data */
 } boot_t;
+
+#endif /* BOOT_H */
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/boot_23xx.armasm b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/boot_23xx.armasm
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/boot_23xx.armasm
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/boot_23xx.armasm
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/boot_23xx.c b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/boot_23xx.c
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/boot_23xx.c
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/boot_23xx.c
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/boot_23xx.h b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/boot_23xx.h
similarity index 92%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/boot_23xx.h
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/boot_23xx.h
index c5497982a2..d67d76e192 100644
--- a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/boot_23xx.h
+++ b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/boot_23xx.h
@@ -16,5 +16,10 @@
  * 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
  */
 
+#ifndef BOOT_23XX_H
+#define BOOT_23XX_H
+
 /* automatically generated from boot_23xx.armasm */
 extern const unsigned int boot_23xx[];
+
+#endif /* BOOT_23XX_H */
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/boot_2xxx.armasm b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/boot_2xxx.armasm
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/boot_2xxx.armasm
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/boot_2xxx.armasm
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/boot_2xxx.c b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/boot_2xxx.c
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/boot_2xxx.c
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/boot_2xxx.c
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/boot_2xxx.h b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/boot_2xxx.h
similarity index 92%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/boot_2xxx.h
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/boot_2xxx.h
index 146c009869..f1826943b5 100644
--- a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/boot_2xxx.h
+++ b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/boot_2xxx.h
@@ -16,5 +16,10 @@
  * 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
  */
 
+#ifndef BOOT_2XXX_H
+#define BOOT_2XXX_H
+
 /* automatically generated from boot_2xxx.armasm */
 extern const unsigned int boot_2xxx[];
+
+#endif /* BOOT_2XXX_H */
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/chipinfo.c b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/chipinfo.c
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/chipinfo.c
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/chipinfo.c
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/chipinfo.h b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/chipinfo.h
similarity index 96%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/chipinfo.h
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/chipinfo.h
index 63b6dd8ffa..de81834d57 100644
--- a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/chipinfo.h
+++ b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/chipinfo.h
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@
  * 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
  */
 
+#ifndef CHIPINFO_H
+#define CHIPINFO_H
+
 extern char *lpc_return_strings[];
 
 /**
@@ -41,3 +44,5 @@ struct chip_info_struct {
 };
 
 extern struct chip_info_struct chip_info[];
+
+#endif /* CHIPINFO_H */
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/cksum_test.c b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/cksum_test.c
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/cksum_test.c
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/cksum_test.c
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/control_2xxx.c b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/control_2xxx.c
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/control_2xxx.c
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/control_2xxx.c
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/control_2xxx.h b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/control_2xxx.h
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/control_2xxx.h
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/control_2xxx.h
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/download.c b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/download.c
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/download.c
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/download.c
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/download.h b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/download.h
similarity index 94%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/download.h
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/download.h
index 1a0d5f1fe6..36467883fe 100644
--- a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/download.h
+++ b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/download.h
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@
  * 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
  */
 
+#ifndef DOWNLOAD_H
+#define DOWNLOAD_H
+
 extern int download_begin(char *file);
 extern void soft_reboot_begin(void);
 extern void hard_reset_to_bootloader(void);
@@ -24,3 +27,5 @@ extern void download_cancel(const char *mesg);
 extern void download_rx_term(const unsigned char *buf, int num);
 extern void download_rx_port(const unsigned char *buf, int num);
 extern void download_timer(void);
+
+#endif /* DOWNLOAD_H */
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/gui.c b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/gui.c
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/gui.c
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/gui.c
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/gui.h b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/gui.h
similarity index 94%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/gui.h
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/gui.h
index e5b53a4c77..e20ed76714 100644
--- a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/gui.h
+++ b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/gui.h
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@
  * 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
  */
 
+#ifndef GUI_H
+#define GUI_H
+
 extern void create_window(int *argc, char ***argv);
 extern void run_gui(void);
 extern void done_program(int still_in_bootloader);
+
+#endif /* GUI_H */
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/ihex.c b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/ihex.c
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/ihex.c
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/ihex.c
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/ihex.h b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/ihex.h
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/ihex.h
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/ihex.h
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/lpc2k_pgm.c b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/lpc2k_pgm.c
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/lpc2k_pgm.c
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/lpc2k_pgm.c
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/lpc2k_pgm.h b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/lpc2k_pgm.h
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/lpc2k_pgm.h
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/lpc2k_pgm.h
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/pseudoterm.c b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/pseudoterm.c
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/pseudoterm.c
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/pseudoterm.c
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/serial.c b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/serial.c
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/serial.c
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/serial.c
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/serial.h b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/serial.h
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/serial.h
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/serial.h
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/settings.c b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/settings.c
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/settings.c
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/settings.c
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/settings.h b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/settings.h
similarity index 95%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/settings.h
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/settings.h
index 0aeb85ca11..ad73a029f0 100644
--- a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/settings.h
+++ b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/settings.h
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
  * 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
  */
 
+#ifndef SETTINGS_H
+#define SETTINGS_H
 
 extern void init_settings(void);
 extern const char *file_setting(void);
@@ -28,3 +30,5 @@ extern void new_baud_setting(const char *new_baud);
 extern void new_crystal_setting(const char *new_xtal);
 
 extern char *baud_list[];
+
+#endif /* SETTINGS_H */
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/uuencode.c b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/uuencode.c
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/uuencode.c
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/uuencode.c
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/uuencode.h b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/uuencode.h
similarity index 93%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/src/uuencode.h
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/uuencode.h
index cd2ee3f47c..cceb2770c5 100644
--- a/boards/common/msba2/tools/src/uuencode.h
+++ b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/src/uuencode.h
@@ -16,5 +16,10 @@
  * 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
  */
 
+#ifndef UUENCODE_H
+#define UUENCODE_H
+
 extern void uuencode(char *str, const unsigned char *data, int num);
 extern int uudecode(const char *str, unsigned char *data, int max);
+
+#endif /* UUENCODE_H */
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/tools/termctrl.sh b/dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/termctrl.sh
similarity index 100%
rename from boards/common/msba2/tools/termctrl.sh
rename to dist/tools/lpc2k_pgm/termctrl.sh
diff --git a/makefiles/tools/lpc2k_pgm.inc.mk b/makefiles/tools/lpc2k_pgm.inc.mk
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..eb48223dfc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/makefiles/tools/lpc2k_pgm.inc.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# Compile `lpc2k_pgm` when required
+LPC2K_PGM = $(RIOTTOOLS)/lpc2k_pgm/bin/lpc2k_pgm
+FLASHDEPS += $(LPC2K_PGM)
+
+FLASHER ?= $(LPC2K_PGM)
+
+FLASHFILE ?= $(HEXFILE)
+FFLAGS ?= $(PROG_DEV) $(FLASHFILE)
diff --git a/makefiles/tools/targets.inc.mk b/makefiles/tools/targets.inc.mk
index 5b2e94f621..d2cb414757 100644
--- a/makefiles/tools/targets.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/tools/targets.inc.mk
@@ -44,3 +44,8 @@ $(RIOTTOOLS)/flatc/flatc: $(RIOTTOOLS)/flatc/Makefile
 	@echo "[INFO] flatc binary not found - building it from source now"
 	$(MAKE) -C $(RIOTTOOLS)/flatc
 	@echo "[INFO] flatc binary successfully built!"
+
+$(RIOTTOOLS)/lpc2k_pgm/bin/lpc2k_pgm: $(RIOTTOOLS)/lpc2k_pgm/Makefile
+	@echo "[INFO] lpc2k_pgm binary not found - building it from source now"
+	@$(MAKE) -C $(RIOTTOOLS)/lpc2k_pgm
+	@echo "[INFO] lpc2k_pgm binary successfully built!"