diff --git a/boards/nrf9160dk/include/board.h b/boards/nrf9160dk/include/board.h
index 8010a4deeb..b94fd39984 100644
--- a/boards/nrf9160dk/include/board.h
+++ b/boards/nrf9160dk/include/board.h
@@ -87,6 +87,14 @@ extern "C" {
 #define BTN3_MODE           GPIO_IN         /**< BTN3 default mode */
 /** @} */
 
+/**
+ * @name    WS281x RGB LED configuration
+ * @{
+ */
+#define WS281X_TIMER_DEV    TIMER_DEV(1)            /**< Timer device */
+#define WS281X_TIMER_MAX_VALUE TIMER_1_MAX_VALUE    /**< Timer max value */
+/** @} */
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/boards/nrf9160dk/include/periph_conf.h b/boards/nrf9160dk/include/periph_conf.h
index cdca44782f..b157bf368b 100644
--- a/boards/nrf9160dk/include/periph_conf.h
+++ b/boards/nrf9160dk/include/periph_conf.h
@@ -83,6 +83,11 @@ static const timer_conf_t timer_config[] = {
 #define TIMER_0_ISR         isr_timer0 /**< Timer0 IRQ*/
 #define TIMER_1_ISR         isr_timer1 /**< Timer1 IRQ */
 
+/** See @ref timer_init */
+#define TIMER_0_MAX_VALUE 0xffffffff
+/** See @ref timer_init */
+#define TIMER_1_MAX_VALUE 0xffffffff
+
 #define TIMER_NUMOF         ARRAY_SIZE(timer_config) /**< Timer configuration NUMOF */
 /** @} */