diff --git a/cpu/esp8266/Makefile.include b/cpu/esp8266/Makefile.include
index e86af4e376..b3802d6c9e 100644
--- a/cpu/esp8266/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/esp8266/Makefile.include
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ endif
 
 # regular Makefile
 
-export CPU ?= esp8266
 export TARGET_ARCH ?= xtensa-lx106-elf
 
 # ESP8266 pseudomodules