diff --git a/tests/driver_lis3dh/Makefile b/tests/driver_lis3dh/Makefile
index 21a82f2ff..2097649d7 100644
--- a/tests/driver_lis3dh/Makefile
+++ b/tests/driver_lis3dh/Makefile
@@ -6,29 +6,16 @@ FEATURES_REQUIRED = periph_spi periph_gpio
 USEMODULE += lis3dh
 USEMODULE += xtimer
 
-ifneq (,$(TEST_LIS3DH_SPI))
-  CFLAGS += -DTEST_LIS3DH_SPI=$(TEST_LIS3DH_SPI)
-else
-  # set arbitrary default
-  CFLAGS += -DTEST_LIS3DH_SPI=SPI_0
-endif
-ifneq (,$(TEST_LIS3DH_CS))
-  CFLAGS += -DTEST_LIS3DH_CS=$(TEST_LIS3DH_CS)
-else
-  # set arbitrary default
-  CFLAGS += -DTEST_LIS3DH_CS=GPIO_PIN\(0,0\)
-endif
-ifneq (,$(TEST_LIS3DH_INT1))
-  CFLAGS += -DTEST_LIS3DH_INT1=$(TEST_LIS3DH_INT1)
-else
-  # set arbitrary default
-  CFLAGS += -DTEST_LIS3DH_INT1=GPIO_PIN\(0,1\)
-endif
-ifneq (,$(TEST_LIS3DH_INT2))
-  CFLAGS += -DTEST_LIS3DH_INT2=$(TEST_LIS3DH_INT2)
-else
-  # set arbitrary default
-  CFLAGS += -DTEST_LIS3DH_INT2=GPIO_PIN\(0,2\)
-endif
+# set default device parameters in case they are undefined
+TEST_LIS3DH_SPI  ?= SPI_0
+TEST_LIS3DH_CS   ?= GPIO_PIN\(0,0\)
+TEST_LIS3DH_INT1 ?= GPIO_PIN\(0,1\)
+TEST_LIS3DH_INT2 ?= GPIO_PIN\(0,2\)
+
+# export parameters
+CFLAGS += -DTEST_LIS3DH_SPI=$(TEST_LIS3DH_SPI)
+CFLAGS += -DTEST_LIS3DH_CS=$(TEST_LIS3DH_CS)
+CFLAGS += -DTEST_LIS3DH_INT1=$(TEST_LIS3DH_INT1)
+CFLAGS += -DTEST_LIS3DH_INT2=$(TEST_LIS3DH_INT2)
 
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include