diff --git a/tests/periph_backup_ram/main.c b/tests/periph_backup_ram/main.c
index f76cb0e059..bdb88aa72e 100644
--- a/tests/periph_backup_ram/main.c
+++ b/tests/periph_backup_ram/main.c
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ int main(void)
      * counter anyway after wakeup, we did not sleep properly.
      */
     static int counter_noinit __attribute__((section(".noinit")));
-    static int counter __attribute__((section(".backup.bss")));
+    static int counter BACKUP_RAM;
 
     if (counter == 0) {
         puts("\nBackup RAM test\n");