diff --git a/tests/rust_minimal/Cargo.toml b/tests/rust_minimal/Cargo.toml
index 739e38879b..128a03eb9f 100644
--- a/tests/rust_minimal/Cargo.toml
+++ b/tests/rust_minimal/Cargo.toml
@@ -8,6 +8,12 @@ resolver = "2"
 [lib]
 crate-type = ["staticlib"]
 
+[profile.release]
+# Setting the panic mode has little effect on the built code (as Rust on RIOT
+# supports no unwinding), but setting it allows builds on native without using
+# the nightly-only lang_items feature.
+panic = "abort"
+
 [dependencies]
 # `default-features = false` can be removed with 0.8, and enables building on stable during the 0.7 series
 riot-wrappers = { version = "0.7", features = [ "set_panic_handler" ], default-features = false }
diff --git a/tests/rust_minimal/Makefile b/tests/rust_minimal/Makefile
index 9001f83c6c..0f91d760be 100644
--- a/tests/rust_minimal/Makefile
+++ b/tests/rust_minimal/Makefile
@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@ BASELIBS += $(APPLICATION_RUST_MODULE).module
 
 FEATURES_REQUIRED += rust_target
 
+# This example can, on all platforms, be built with a stable version of Rust.
+# For most advanced features (eg. when using CoAP, SAUL or the shell with
+# Rust), this needs to be set to "nightly" for the time being.
+CARGO_CHANNEL = stable
+
 # Currently unknown, something related to the LED_PORT definition that doesn't
 # pass C2Rust's transpilation
 BOARD_BLACKLIST := ek-lm4f120xl