diff --git a/tests/driver_pir/Makefile b/tests/driver_pir/Makefile
index 5c101c26e7..3e3411af22 100644
--- a/tests/driver_pir/Makefile
+++ b/tests/driver_pir/Makefile
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ USEMODULE += vtimer
 
 ifneq (,$(PIR_GPIO))
   CFLAGS += -DPIR_GPIO=$(PIR_GPIO)
+else
+  # set random default
+  CFLAGS += -DPIR_GPIO=GPIO_0
 endif
 
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include