diff --git a/boards/spark-core/Makefile.features b/boards/spark-core/Makefile.features
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..990fa817be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/boards/spark-core/Makefile.features
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += cpp
diff --git a/boards/spark-core/Makefile.include b/boards/spark-core/Makefile.include
index dea8de946c..76e05a6370 100644
--- a/boards/spark-core/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/spark-core/Makefile.include
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ export BINFILE = $(patsubst %.elf,%.bin,$(ELFFILE))
 # define tools used for building the project
 export PREFIX = arm-none-eabi-
 export CC = $(PREFIX)gcc
+export CXX = $(PREFIX)g++
 export AR = $(PREFIX)ar
 export AS = $(PREFIX)as
 export LINK = $(PREFIX)gcc
@@ -34,6 +35,10 @@ export FFLAGS = $(HEXFILE)
 export DEBUGGER_FLAGS = $(RIOTBOARD)/$(BOARD)/dist/gdb.conf $(ELFFILE)
 export TERMFLAGS = -p $(PORT)
 
+# unwanted (CXXUWFLAGS) and extra (CXXEXFLAGS) flags for c++
+export CXXUWFLAGS +=
+export CXXEXFLAGS +=
+
 # use the nano-specs of the NewLib when available
 ifeq ($(shell $(LINK) -specs=nano.specs -E - 2>/dev/null >/dev/null </dev/null ; echo $$?),0)
 export LINKFLAGS += -specs=nano.specs -lc -lnosys