diff --git a/boards/common/saml1x/include/board.h b/boards/common/saml1x/include/board.h
index b8a535e158..2d023ea3aa 100644
--- a/boards/common/saml1x/include/board.h
+++ b/boards/common/saml1x/include/board.h
@@ -62,6 +62,12 @@ extern "C" {
 #define BTN0_MODE           GPIO_IN_PU
 /** @} */
 
+/**
+ * @name    Xtimer configuration
+ * @{
+ */
+#define XTIMER_BACKOFF      (40)
+/** @} */
 
 /**
  * @brief   Initialize board specific hardware, including clock, LEDs and std-IO