diff --git a/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include b/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include
index 730451b8fd..3da96e6880 100644
--- a/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ RIOTBOOT_LEN ?= 0x2000
 # the em_device.h header requires a global define with the cpu model
 CFLAGS += -D$(call uppercase_and_underscore,$(CPU_MODEL))
 
+# to be able to use the family as define
+CFLAGS += -DCPU_FAM_$(call uppercase_and_underscore,$(CPU_FAM))
+
 # include EFM32 specific driver headers
 INCLUDES += -I$(RIOTCPU)/efm32/include/drivers