diff --git a/boards/common/qn908x/Makefile.include b/boards/common/qn908x/Makefile.include
index 9944453daa..e731a314a6 100644
--- a/boards/common/qn908x/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/common/qn908x/Makefile.include
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+# This board uses OpenOCD. Note that support for QN908x in OpenOCD at the time
+# of writing has not been merged in the tree and is only available at
+# http://openocd.zylin.com/#/c/5584/ .
+PROGRAMMER ?= openocd
+
 # Using dap or jlink depends on which firmware the OpenSDA debugger is running
 #DEBUG_ADAPTER ?= dap
 DEBUG_ADAPTER ?= jlink
@@ -9,18 +14,3 @@ OPENOCD_CONFIG ?= $(RIOTBOARD)/common/qn908x/dist/openocd.cfg
 # verify the image, which needs to have the WDT disabled but it is normally
 # enabled after a 'reset halt' command.
 OPENOCD_PRE_FLASH_CMDS += "-c qn908x disable_wdog"
-
-# Set default port depending on operating system
-PORT_LINUX ?= /dev/ttyACM0
-PORT_DARWIN ?= $(firstword $(sort $(wildcard /dev/tty.usbmodem*)))
-
-# OpenOCD is able to handle .elf files and is the preferred way.
-FLASHFILE ?= $(ELFFILE)
-
-# Setup serial terminal
-include $(RIOTMAKE)/tools/serial.inc.mk
-
-# This board uses OpenOCD. Note that support for QN908x in OpenOCD at the time
-# of writing has not been merged in the tree and is only available at
-# http://openocd.zylin.com/#/c/5584/ .
-include $(RIOTMAKE)/tools/openocd.inc.mk