diff --git a/tests/candev/Makefile b/tests/candev/Makefile
index f7b1d3adae..b96b30d0d0 100644
--- a/tests/candev/Makefile
+++ b/tests/candev/Makefile
@@ -1,11 +1,21 @@
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
+BOARD_WHITELIST := native
 
 USEMODULE += shell
 USEMODULE += can
 USEMODULE += isrpipe
 
 # define the CAN driver you want to use here
-CAN_DRIVER ?= native
+CAN_DRIVER ?= CAN_NATIVE
+
+# prevent using native driver on non-native board
+ifeq ($(CAN_DRIVER), CAN_NATIVE)
+  ifneq ($(BOARD), native)
+    $(error native can driver can only be used on native board!)
+  endif
+endif
+
+
 
 ifeq ($(CAN_DRIVER), PERIPH_CAN)
 # periph_can modules/variables go here
@@ -15,6 +25,4 @@ else ifeq ($(CAN_DRIVER), CAN_NATIVE)
 
 endif
 
-CFLAGS += -DCAN_DRIVER_$(CAN_DRIVER)
-
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
diff --git a/tests/candev/main.c b/tests/candev/main.c
index b2a9421ea8..7e6e692507 100644
--- a/tests/candev/main.c
+++ b/tests/candev/main.c
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 #include "shell.h"
 #include "can/device.h"
 
-#ifdef BOARD_NATIVE
+#if IS_USED(MODULE_CAN_LINUX)
 
 #include <candev_linux.h>
 
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ int main(void)
     puts("candev test application\n");
 
     isrpipe_init(&rxbuf, (uint8_t *)rx_ringbuf, sizeof(rx_ringbuf));
-#ifdef BOARD_NATIVE
+#if IS_USED(MODULE_CAN_LINUX)
     puts("Initializing Linux Can device");
     candev_linux_init( &linux_dev, &(candev_linux_conf[0]));    /* vcan0 */
     candev = (candev_t *)&linux_dev;