diff --git a/makefiles/docker.inc.mk b/makefiles/docker.inc.mk
index 77a77a1aad..4ca94e0254 100644
--- a/makefiles/docker.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/docker.inc.mk
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ export DOCKER_ENV_VARS += \
   PREFIX \
   QUIET \
   WERROR \
+  PROGRAMMER \
   RIOT_CI_BUILD \
   RIOT_VERSION \
   SCANBUILD_ARGS \