diff --git a/dist/tools/buildsystem_sanity_check/check.sh b/dist/tools/buildsystem_sanity_check/check.sh
index 76bb3edeb2..36eaa3f7d5 100755
--- a/dist/tools/buildsystem_sanity_check/check.sh
+++ b/dist/tools/buildsystem_sanity_check/check.sh
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ UNEXPORTED_VARIABLES+=('OPENOCD_ADAPTER_INIT')
 UNEXPORTED_VARIABLES+=('OPENOCD_CONFIG')
 UNEXPORTED_VARIABLES+=('OPENOCD_RESET_USE_CONNECT_ASSERT_SRST')
 UNEXPORTED_VARIABLES+=('FLASH_TARGET_TYPE')
+UNEXPORTED_VARIABLES+=('PYOCD_ADAPTER_INIT')
 
 EXPORTED_VARIABLES_ONLY_IN_VARS=()
 EXPORTED_VARIABLES_ONLY_IN_VARS+=('APPDEPS')