diff --git a/tests/board_microbit/Makefile b/tests/board_microbit/Makefile
index 4949f96c98..6330d8c9d8 100644
--- a/tests/board_microbit/Makefile
+++ b/tests/board_microbit/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-include ../Makefile.tests_common
+BOARD ?= microbit
 
-BOARD = microbit
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 # This test application is for the BBC micro:bit only
 BOARD_WHITELIST := microbit
diff --git a/tests/cpu_efm32_features/Makefile b/tests/cpu_efm32_features/Makefile
index 6463539652..25f2c1a11e 100644
--- a/tests/cpu_efm32_features/Makefile
+++ b/tests/cpu_efm32_features/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
+BOARD ?= sltb001a
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
-BOARD = sltb001a
-
 BOARD_WHITELIST := ikea-tradfri \
                    slstk3401a \
                    slstk3402a \