diff --git a/tests/conn_ip/Makefile b/tests/conn_ip/Makefile
index 30ee53231f..dec3f7463c 100644
--- a/tests/conn_ip/Makefile
+++ b/tests/conn_ip/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 APPLICATION = conn_ip
-
-BOARD ?= native
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
 
@@ -18,8 +17,6 @@ USEMODULE += shell
 USEMODULE += shell_commands
 USEMODULE += ps
 
-QUIET ?= 1
-
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
 
 test:
diff --git a/tests/cpp11_condition_variable/Makefile b/tests/cpp11_condition_variable/Makefile
index a3eabd35c8..70b6b28f46 100644
--- a/tests/cpp11_condition_variable/Makefile
+++ b/tests/cpp11_condition_variable/Makefile
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 # name of your application
 APPLICATION = cpp11_condition_variable
-
-# If no BOARD is found in the environment, use this default:
-BOARD ?= native
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 # ROM is overflowing for these boards when using
 # gcc-arm-none-eabi-4.9.3.2015q2-1trusty1 from ppa:terry.guo/gcc-arm-embedded
@@ -20,9 +18,6 @@ RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
 # development process:
 CFLAGS += -DDEVELHELP
 
-# Change this to 0 show compiler invocation lines by default:
-QUIET ?= 1
-
 # If you want to add some extra flags when compile c++ files, add these flags
 # to CXXEXFLAGS variable
 CXXEXFLAGS += -std=c++11
diff --git a/tests/cpp11_mutex/Makefile b/tests/cpp11_mutex/Makefile
index d47b712036..8d8ae183f8 100644
--- a/tests/cpp11_mutex/Makefile
+++ b/tests/cpp11_mutex/Makefile
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 # name of your application
 APPLICATION = cpp11_mutex
-
-# If no BOARD is found in the environment, use this default:
-BOARD ?= native
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 # ROM is overflowing for these boards when using
 # gcc-arm-none-eabi-4.9.3.2015q2-1trusty1 from ppa:terry.guo/gcc-arm-embedded
@@ -20,9 +18,6 @@ RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
 # development process:
 CFLAGS += -DDEVELHELP
 
-# Change this to 0 show compiler invocation lines by default:
-QUIET ?= 1
-
 # If you want to add some extra flags when compile c++ files, add these flags
 # to CXXEXFLAGS variable
 CXXEXFLAGS += -std=c++11
diff --git a/tests/cpp11_thread/Makefile b/tests/cpp11_thread/Makefile
index ba74d725ec..42cb9eac5d 100644
--- a/tests/cpp11_thread/Makefile
+++ b/tests/cpp11_thread/Makefile
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 # name of your application
 APPLICATION = cpp11_thread
-
-# If no BOARD is found in the environment, use this default:
-BOARD ?= native
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 # ROM is overflowing for these boards when using
 # gcc-arm-none-eabi-4.9.3.2015q2-1trusty1 from ppa:terry.guo/gcc-arm-embedded
@@ -20,9 +18,6 @@ RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
 # development process:
 CFLAGS += -DDEVELHELP
 
-# Change this to 0 show compiler invocation lines by default:
-QUIET ?= 1
-
 # If you want to add some extra flags when compile c++ files, add these flags
 # to CXXEXFLAGS variable
 CXXEXFLAGS += -std=c++11
diff --git a/tests/emb6/Makefile b/tests/emb6/Makefile
index 0d3d48bcd5..d958a2a6e4 100644
--- a/tests/emb6/Makefile
+++ b/tests/emb6/Makefile
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 APPLICATION = emb6
+# overwrite board, do not set native as default
+BOARD ?= samr21-xpro
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 FEATURES_REQUIRED = periph_gpio periph_spi  # for at86rf231
 
-BOARD ?= samr21-xpro
-
 RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
 
 BOARD_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY := msb-430h stm32f0discovery telosb weio z1
@@ -35,6 +36,4 @@ DRIVER ?= at86rf231
 # include the selected driver
 USEMODULE += $(DRIVER)
 
-QUIET ?= 1
-
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
diff --git a/tests/fault_handler/Makefile b/tests/fault_handler/Makefile
index e340ac5eb7..24a6601f75 100644
--- a/tests/fault_handler/Makefile
+++ b/tests/fault_handler/Makefile
@@ -1,15 +1,10 @@
 # name of your application
 APPLICATION = fault_handler
-
-# If no BOARD is found in the environment, use this default:
-BOARD ?= native
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 # This has to be the absolute path to the RIOT base directory:
 RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
 
-# Change this to 0 show compiler invocation lines by default:
-QUIET ?= 1
-
 CFLAGS += -DDEVELHELP=1
 
 ifeq ($(shell uname),Darwin)
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile
index ded570d0fd..e82d67772e 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 # name of your application
 APPLICATION = gnrc_ipv6_ext
-
-# If no BOARD is found in the environment, use this default:
-BOARD ?= native
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 # This has to be the absolute path to the RIOT base directory:
 RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
@@ -32,9 +30,6 @@ USEMODULE += ps
 # development process:
 CFLAGS += -DDEVELHELP
 
-# Change this to 0 show compiler invocation lines by default:
-QUIET ?= 1
-
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
 
 # This requires ENABLE_DEBUG in gnrc_ipv6.c to be 1
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan/Makefile
index 2996c313d8..34ccc73913 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan/Makefile
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 # name of your application
 APPLICATION = gnrc_sixlowpan
-
-# If no BOARD is found in the environment, use this default:
-BOARD ?= native
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 # This has to be the absolute path to the RIOT base directory:
 RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
@@ -28,9 +26,6 @@ USEMODULE += gnrc_pktdump
 # development process:
 CFLAGS += -DDEVELHELP
 
-# Change this to 0 show compiler invocation lines by default:
-QUIET ?= 1
-
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
 
 test:
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_sock_ip/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_sock_ip/Makefile
index 8c06d87bbe..14fb094a97 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_sock_ip/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_sock_ip/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 APPLICATION = gnrc_sock_ip
-
-BOARD ?= native
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
 
@@ -12,8 +11,6 @@ CFLAGS += -DDEVELHELP
 CFLAGS += -DGNRC_PKTBUF_SIZE=200
 CFLAGS += -DTEST_SUITES
 
-QUIET ?= 1
-
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
 
 test:
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_sock_udp/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_sock_udp/Makefile
index 317782b8fc..d880fb6f4f 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_sock_udp/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_sock_udp/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 APPLICATION = gnrc_sock_udp
-
-BOARD ?= native
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
 
@@ -15,8 +14,6 @@ CFLAGS += -DDEVELHELP
 CFLAGS += -DGNRC_PKTBUF_SIZE=400
 CFLAGS += -DTEST_SUITES
 
-QUIET ?= 1
-
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
 
 test:
diff --git a/tests/lwip/Makefile b/tests/lwip/Makefile
index 69c3a6c03e..38c10c2841 100644
--- a/tests/lwip/Makefile
+++ b/tests/lwip/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 APPLICATION = lwip
-
+# overwrite board, do not set native as default
 BOARD ?= iotlab-m3
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
 
@@ -43,8 +44,6 @@ endif
 
 USEMODULE += $(DRIVER)
 
-QUIET ?= 1
-
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
 
 test:
diff --git a/tests/lwip_sock_ip/Makefile b/tests/lwip_sock_ip/Makefile
index 369b49d039..7076dca5fe 100644
--- a/tests/lwip_sock_ip/Makefile
+++ b/tests/lwip_sock_ip/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 APPLICATION = lwip_sock_ip
-
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 # lwIP's memory management doesn't seem to work on non 32-bit platforms at the
diff --git a/tests/malloc/Makefile b/tests/malloc/Makefile
index 8a57b0b309..0fb6291fca 100644
--- a/tests/malloc/Makefile
+++ b/tests/malloc/Makefile
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 # name of your application
 APPLICATION = malloc
-
-# If no BOARD is found in the environment, use this default:
-BOARD ?= native
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 # This has to be the absolute path to the RIOT base directory:
 RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
@@ -12,7 +10,4 @@ RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
 # development process:
 CFLAGS += -DDEVELHELP
 
-# Change this to 0 show compiler invocation lines by default:
-QUIET ?= 1
-
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
diff --git a/tests/minimal/Makefile b/tests/minimal/Makefile
index 9d01d186e3..6d1ac3af80 100644
--- a/tests/minimal/Makefile
+++ b/tests/minimal/Makefile
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 # name of your application
 APPLICATION = minimal
-
-# If no BOARD is found in the environment, use this default:
-BOARD ?= native
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 # This has to be the absolute path to the RIOT base directory:
 RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
@@ -13,7 +11,4 @@ CFLAGS += -DNDEBUG -DLOG_LEVEL=LOG_NONE
 #
 DISABLE_MODULE += auto_init
 
-# Change this to 0 show compiler invocation lines by default:
-QUIET ?= 1
-
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
diff --git a/tests/msg_send_receive/Makefile b/tests/msg_send_receive/Makefile
index 93b32e37b9..e8e8a1bc7c 100644
--- a/tests/msg_send_receive/Makefile
+++ b/tests/msg_send_receive/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 # name of your application
 APPLICATION = msg_send_receive
-
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
diff --git a/tests/od/Makefile b/tests/od/Makefile
index 72371e77bf..d18fd28709 100644
--- a/tests/od/Makefile
+++ b/tests/od/Makefile
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 # name of your application
 APPLICATION = od
-
-# If no BOARD is found in the environment, use this default:
-BOARD ?= native
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 # This has to be the absolute path to the RIOT base directory:
 RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
@@ -14,9 +12,6 @@ USEMODULE += od
 # development process:
 CFLAGS += -DDEVELHELP
 
-# Change this to 0 show compiler invocation lines by default:
-QUIET ?= 1
-
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
 
 test:
diff --git a/tests/periph_pwm/Makefile b/tests/periph_pwm/Makefile
index 237aa5c4b3..2cd25599d0 100644
--- a/tests/periph_pwm/Makefile
+++ b/tests/periph_pwm/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-export APPLICATION = periph_pwm
+APPLICATION = periph_pwm
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 FEATURES_REQUIRED = periph_pwm
diff --git a/tests/periph_rtc/Makefile b/tests/periph_rtc/Makefile
index b72b0f6a9e..e7bf23af6a 100644
--- a/tests/periph_rtc/Makefile
+++ b/tests/periph_rtc/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-export APPLICATION = periph_rtc
+APPLICATION = periph_rtc
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 FEATURES_REQUIRED = periph_rtc
diff --git a/tests/periph_rtt/Makefile b/tests/periph_rtt/Makefile
index 869af1510c..013cbacdd5 100644
--- a/tests/periph_rtt/Makefile
+++ b/tests/periph_rtt/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-export APPLICATION = periph_rtt
+APPLICATION = periph_rtt
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 FEATURES_REQUIRED = periph_rtt
diff --git a/tests/periph_spi/Makefile b/tests/periph_spi/Makefile
index cdbf2cc8dc..7f3aae67c4 100644
--- a/tests/periph_spi/Makefile
+++ b/tests/periph_spi/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-export APPLICATION = periph_spi
+APPLICATION = periph_spi
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 FEATURES_REQUIRED = periph_spi
diff --git a/tests/periph_timer/Makefile b/tests/periph_timer/Makefile
index f5458de1dd..9ae3366ca3 100644
--- a/tests/periph_timer/Makefile
+++ b/tests/periph_timer/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-export APPLICATION = periph_timer
+APPLICATION = periph_timer
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 FEATURES_REQUIRED = periph_timer
diff --git a/tests/periph_uart/Makefile b/tests/periph_uart/Makefile
index 90d11466be..d23b7b05ff 100644
--- a/tests/periph_uart/Makefile
+++ b/tests/periph_uart/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-export APPLICATION = periph_uart
+APPLICATION = periph_uart
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 FEATURES_REQUIRED = periph_uart
diff --git a/tests/xtimer_periodic_wakeup/Makefile b/tests/xtimer_periodic_wakeup/Makefile
index de65332774..fb9c82ba85 100644
--- a/tests/xtimer_periodic_wakeup/Makefile
+++ b/tests/xtimer_periodic_wakeup/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 APPLICATION = xtimer_sleep_until
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
-BOARD ?= native
 RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
 
 BOARD_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY := chronos
diff --git a/tests/xtimer_remove/Makefile b/tests/xtimer_remove/Makefile
index b265257919..8f94eb0290 100644
--- a/tests/xtimer_remove/Makefile
+++ b/tests/xtimer_remove/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 APPLICATION = xtimer_remove
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
-BOARD ?= native
 RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
 
 USEMODULE += xtimer
diff --git a/tests/xtimer_reset/Makefile b/tests/xtimer_reset/Makefile
index 1fe16770e9..66c7fbbf76 100644
--- a/tests/xtimer_reset/Makefile
+++ b/tests/xtimer_reset/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 APPLICATION = xtimer_reset
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
-BOARD ?= native
 RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
 
 USEMODULE += xtimer
diff --git a/tests/zep/Makefile b/tests/zep/Makefile
index 529ab8487f..2605100773 100644
--- a/tests/zep/Makefile
+++ b/tests/zep/Makefile
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ USEMODULE += gnrc_pktdump
 USEMODULE += shell
 USEMODULE += shell_commands
 
-
 # set optional default values for ZEP parameters if unset
 ZEP_DST      ?= "\"::1\""
 ZEP_SRC_PORT ?= GNRC_ZEP_DEFAULT_PORT