diff --git a/boards/atmega256rfr2-xpro/doc.txt b/boards/atmega256rfr2-xpro/doc.txt
index 1c7d677cad..1ac5d747a4 100644
--- a/boards/atmega256rfr2-xpro/doc.txt
+++ b/boards/atmega256rfr2-xpro/doc.txt
@@ -11,7 +11,20 @@ is an evaluation kit by Microchip for their ATmega256RFR2 microcontroller.
 ### Flash the board
 
 You can flash the board using the on-board EDBG programmer via JTAG. Avrdude has
-support for programming an AVR via EDBG with its xplainedpro programmer:
+support for programming an AVR via EDBG with its xplainedpro programmer.
+
+First, make sure the default fuse settings are correct. In particular, the low
+byte fuse are enabling the use of the on-board 16MHz external oscillator.<br/>
+
+WARNING: setting the fuses incorrectly can brick your board!
+```
+avrdude -p m256rfr2 -c xplainedpro -U efuse:w:0xFF:m
+avrdude -p m256rfr2 -c xplainedpro -U hfuse:w:0x1F:m
+avrdude -p m256rfr2 -c xplainedpro -U lfuse:w:0xFF:m
+```
+
+To flash the board, just call `make` from an application directory with the
+`flash` target:
 
 ```
 make BOARD=atmega256rfr2-xpro -C examples/hello-world flash