diff --git a/boards/acd52832/Makefile.include b/boards/acd52832/Makefile.include
index 7464e87d14a5b..a39c1a2d69b11 100644
--- a/boards/acd52832/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/acd52832/Makefile.include
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 # set default port depending on operating system
 PORT_LINUX ?= /dev/ttyUSB0
 
+# setup JLink for flashing
+JLINK_DEVICE = nrf52832_xxaa
+
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/nrf52/Makefile.include
diff --git a/boards/common/nrf52/Makefile.include b/boards/common/nrf52/Makefile.include
index 82ab6d06433ae..8e17d28b28b14 100644
--- a/boards/common/nrf52/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/common/nrf52/Makefile.include
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@ else
   PROGRAMMER ?= openocd
 endif
 
-# setup JLink for flashing
-JLINK_DEVICE = nrf52
 # setup OpenOCD for flashing. Version 0.10 of OpenOCD doesn't contain support
 # for nrf52dk and nrf52840dk boards. To use OpenOCD with these a version
 # build from source (master > 2018, August the 13rd) is required.
diff --git a/boards/dwm1001/Makefile.include b/boards/dwm1001/Makefile.include
index 5008dc2c526f5..e8562a4fbf529 100644
--- a/boards/dwm1001/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/dwm1001/Makefile.include
@@ -1,2 +1,5 @@
+# setup JLink for flashing
+JLINK_DEVICE = nrf52832_xxaa
+
 # include common configuration for nrf52 based boards
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/nrf52/Makefile.include
diff --git a/boards/e104-bt5010a-tb/Makefile.include b/boards/e104-bt5010a-tb/Makefile.include
index f3dda365ba021..10a2f27968087 100644
--- a/boards/e104-bt5010a-tb/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/e104-bt5010a-tb/Makefile.include
@@ -1 +1,4 @@
+# setup JLink for flashing
+JLINK_DEVICE = nrf52810_xxaa
+
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/e104-bt50xxa-tb/Makefile.include
diff --git a/boards/e104-bt5011a-tb/Makefile.include b/boards/e104-bt5011a-tb/Makefile.include
index f3dda365ba021..7abd93743d103 100644
--- a/boards/e104-bt5011a-tb/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/e104-bt5011a-tb/Makefile.include
@@ -1 +1,4 @@
+# setup JLink for flashing
+JLINK_DEVICE = nrf52811_xxaa
+
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/e104-bt50xxa-tb/Makefile.include
diff --git a/boards/nrf52840dk/Makefile.include b/boards/nrf52840dk/Makefile.include
index 7a7fc118c90a6..a03eb414c33f7 100644
--- a/boards/nrf52840dk/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/nrf52840dk/Makefile.include
@@ -6,4 +6,7 @@ TTY_BOARD_FILTER := --model J-Link
 # the debug adapter
 DEBUG_ADAPTER_ID_IS_TTY_SERIAL := 1
 
+# setup JLink for flashing
+JLINK_DEVICE = nrf52840_xxaa
+
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/nrf52xxxdk/Makefile.include
diff --git a/boards/nrf52dk/Makefile.include b/boards/nrf52dk/Makefile.include
index c86c0c8eaba8e..30b1e9beb4608 100644
--- a/boards/nrf52dk/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/nrf52dk/Makefile.include
@@ -2,4 +2,7 @@
 # USB serials to only select the UART bridge of integrated J-Link debugger.
 TTY_BOARD_FILTER := --model J-Link
 
+# setup JLink for flashing
+JLINK_DEVICE = nrf52832_xxaa
+
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/nrf52xxxdk/Makefile.include
diff --git a/boards/ruuvitag/Makefile.include b/boards/ruuvitag/Makefile.include
index 03e3beeae017c..75b1688414f93 100644
--- a/boards/ruuvitag/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/ruuvitag/Makefile.include
@@ -5,5 +5,8 @@ ifeq (,$(filter stdio_%,$(DISABLE_MODULE) $(USEMODULE)))
   RIOT_TERMINAL ?= jlink
 endif
 
+# setup JLink for flashing
+JLINK_DEVICE = nrf52832_xxaa
+
 # use shared Makefile.include
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/nrf52xxxdk/Makefile.include
diff --git a/boards/waveshare-nrf52840-eval-kit/Makefile.include b/boards/waveshare-nrf52840-eval-kit/Makefile.include
index 375f22da75908..a78d8cf290083 100644
--- a/boards/waveshare-nrf52840-eval-kit/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/waveshare-nrf52840-eval-kit/Makefile.include
@@ -1 +1,4 @@
+# setup JLink for flashing
+JLINK_DEVICE = nrf52840_xxaa
+
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/nrf52/Makefile.include