diff --git a/tests/sys/shell/Makefile b/tests/sys/shell/Makefile
index ec4ed07377..9258c81784 100644
--- a/tests/sys/shell/Makefile
+++ b/tests/sys/shell/Makefile
@@ -23,3 +23,9 @@ CFLAGS += '-DTHREAD_STACKSIZE_MAIN=(THREAD_STACKSIZE_SMALL+THREAD_EXTRA_STACKSIZ
 
 # the test script skips tests if socat is not used
 $(call target-export-variables,$(RIOT_TERMINAL),RIOT_TERMINAL)
+
+# skip reboot for boards using highlevel_stdio that would disconnect during reboot
+ifneq (,$(filter highlevel_stdio,$(FEATURES_USED)))
+  TESTRUNNER_SHELL_SKIP_REBOOT := 1
+endif
+$(call target-export-variables,$(TESTRUNNER_SHELL_SKIP_REBOOT),TESTRUNNER_SHELL_SKIP_REBOOT)