diff --git a/boards/chronos/Makefile.include b/boards/chronos/Makefile.include
index c13f7c5b8f..b2b7c422b5 100644
--- a/boards/chronos/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/chronos/Makefile.include
@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@ export CPU = cc430
 export CPU_MODEL = cc430f6137
 
 # flasher configuration
+FLASHFILE ?= $(HEXFILE)
 FLASHER = mspdebug
-FFLAGS = rf2500 "prog $(HEXFILE)"
+FFLAGS = rf2500 "prog $(FLASHFILE)"
 
 INCLUDES += -I$(RIOTBOARD)/$(BOARD)/drivers/include
 
diff --git a/boards/common/msb-430/Makefile.include b/boards/common/msb-430/Makefile.include
index 58be9005a8..6a9f89124c 100644
--- a/boards/common/msb-430/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/common/msb-430/Makefile.include
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ ifeq ($(strip $(PROGRAMMER)),uif)
   MSPDEBUGFLAGS += -d $(PORT)
 endif
 FLASHER ?= mspdebug
-FFLAGS = $(MSPDEBUGFLAGS) "prog $(HEXFILE)"
+FLASHFILE ?= $(HEXFILE)
+FFLAGS = $(MSPDEBUGFLAGS) "prog $(FLASHFILE)"
 
 # setup debugger
 DEBUGSERVER = $(FLASHER)
diff --git a/boards/common/wsn430/Makefile.include b/boards/common/wsn430/Makefile.include
index 9853cc8cf0..56d61e0f0e 100644
--- a/boards/common/wsn430/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/common/wsn430/Makefile.include
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ include $(RIOTMAKE)/tools/serial.inc.mk
 
 # configure the flash tool
 FLASHER = mspdebug
-FFLAGS = -d $(PORT) -j uif "prog $(HEXFILE)"
+FLASHFILE ?= $(HEXFILE)
+FFLAGS = -d $(PORT) -j uif "prog $(FLASHFILE)"
 
 # Use the HEXFILE when using iot-lab.single.inc.mk
-IOTLAB_FLASHFILE = $(HEXFILE)
+IOTLAB_FLASHFILE = $(FLASHFILE)