diff --git a/boards/nrf51dk/Makefile.include b/boards/nrf51dk/Makefile.include
index 1290b19c62..9ca97ae9cc 100644
--- a/boards/nrf51dk/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/nrf51dk/Makefile.include
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ PROGRAMMER ?= openocd
 # dap debug adapter is required for openocd
 ifeq (openocd,$(PROGRAMMER))
   DEBUG_ADAPTER = dap
+else ifeq (pyocd, $(PROGRAMMER)) # this boards is also supported by PyOCD
+  include $(RIOTMAKE)/tools/pyocd.inc.mk
 endif
 
 # include nrf51 boards common configuration