diff --git a/tests/Makefile.tests_common b/tests/Makefile.tests_common
index b4ed5b3e6..bb1feb44d 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