diff --git a/tests/Makefile.tests_common b/tests/Makefile.tests_common
index b4ed5b3e62..bb1feb44d5 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile.tests_common
+++ b/tests/Makefile.tests_common
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+ifneq (,$(filter driver_%,$(APPLICATION)))
+    BOARD ?= samr21-xpro
+endif
 BOARD ?= native
 RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
 QUIET ?= 1
diff --git a/tests/board_calliope-mini/Makefile b/tests/board_calliope-mini/Makefile
index 042d4f7d4e..512c461998 100644
--- a/tests/board_calliope-mini/Makefile
+++ b/tests/board_calliope-mini/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 APPLICATION = board_calliope-mini
-include ../Makefile.tests_common
-
 BOARD ?= calliope-mini
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 # This test application is for the Calliope mini only
 BOARD_WHITELIST := calliope-mini
diff --git a/tests/driver_lis3mdl/Makefile b/tests/driver_lis3mdl/Makefile
index 99f9540c61..0187bcf059 100644
--- a/tests/driver_lis3mdl/Makefile
+++ b/tests/driver_lis3mdl/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 APPLICATION = driver_lis3mdl
+BOARD ?= limifrog-v1
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 # only this board is known (yet) to provide the sensor LIS3MDL
diff --git a/tests/mpu_stack_guard/Makefile b/tests/mpu_stack_guard/Makefile
index 7349a165d3..bfd3d977db 100644
--- a/tests/mpu_stack_guard/Makefile
+++ b/tests/mpu_stack_guard/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 APPLICATION = mpu_stack_guard
+BOARD ?= samr21-xpro
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 BOARD_WHITELIST += arduino-due      # cortex-m3
diff --git a/tests/periph_adc/Makefile b/tests/periph_adc/Makefile
index b610e46ac3..5489c6b2b0 100644
--- a/tests/periph_adc/Makefile
+++ b/tests/periph_adc/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 APPLICATION = periph_adc
+BOARD ?= pba-d-01-kw2x
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 FEATURES_REQUIRED = periph_adc
diff --git a/tests/periph_dac/Makefile b/tests/periph_dac/Makefile
index 359ca0a709..b10e3450bd 100644
--- a/tests/periph_dac/Makefile
+++ b/tests/periph_dac/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 APPLICATION = periph_dac
+BOARD ?= stm32f4discovery
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 FEATURES_REQUIRED = periph_dac
diff --git a/tests/periph_flashpage/Makefile b/tests/periph_flashpage/Makefile
index d0b666fd00..746a26411b 100644
--- a/tests/periph_flashpage/Makefile
+++ b/tests/periph_flashpage/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 APPLICATION = periph_flashpage
+BOARD ?= iotlab-m3
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 FEATURES_REQUIRED = periph_flashpage
diff --git a/tests/periph_i2c/Makefile b/tests/periph_i2c/Makefile
index 56e66531fd..b9e40bd061 100644
--- a/tests/periph_i2c/Makefile
+++ b/tests/periph_i2c/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 APPLICATION = periph_i2c
+BOARD ?= samr21-xpro
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 FEATURES_REQUIRED = periph_i2c
diff --git a/tests/periph_pwm/Makefile b/tests/periph_pwm/Makefile
index 2cd25599d0..320756e64f 100644
--- a/tests/periph_pwm/Makefile
+++ b/tests/periph_pwm/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 APPLICATION = periph_pwm
+BOARD ?= samr21-xpro
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 FEATURES_REQUIRED = periph_pwm
diff --git a/tests/periph_rtt/Makefile b/tests/periph_rtt/Makefile
index 013cbacdd5..f935538967 100644
--- a/tests/periph_rtt/Makefile
+++ b/tests/periph_rtt/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 APPLICATION = periph_rtt
+BOARD ?= samr21-xpro
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 FEATURES_REQUIRED = periph_rtt
diff --git a/tests/periph_spi/Makefile b/tests/periph_spi/Makefile
index 70ea313087..2ea748c47a 100644
--- a/tests/periph_spi/Makefile
+++ b/tests/periph_spi/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 APPLICATION = periph_spi
+BOARD ?= samr21-xpro
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 FEATURES_REQUIRED = periph_spi
diff --git a/tests/pkg_cmsis-dsp/Makefile b/tests/pkg_cmsis-dsp/Makefile
index 71738dd0b9..635b404439 100644
--- a/tests/pkg_cmsis-dsp/Makefile
+++ b/tests/pkg_cmsis-dsp/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 APPLICATION = cmsis-dsp
+BOARD ?= samr21-xpro
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 USEPKG += cmsis-dsp
diff --git a/tests/warn_conflict/Makefile b/tests/warn_conflict/Makefile
index b83cc4411c..f64cefc41c 100644
--- a/tests/warn_conflict/Makefile
+++ b/tests/warn_conflict/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 APPLICATION = warn_conflict
+BOARD ?= stm32f4discovery
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 # The stm32f4discovery is the only board that provides known conflicting features,