diff --git a/tests/build_system_cflags_spaces/Makefile b/tests/build_system_cflags_spaces/Makefile
index c620d2640a..9adc44cc7c 100644
--- a/tests/build_system_cflags_spaces/Makefile
+++ b/tests/build_system_cflags_spaces/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
-APPLICATION = cflags_with_spaces
-BOARD ?= native
-RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
-
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 CFLAGS += -DSUPER_STRING='"I love sentences with spaces"'
 
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
diff --git a/tests/driver_sht2x/Makefile b/tests/driver_sht2x/Makefile
index 0c5362e91c..05714c3496 100644
--- a/tests/driver_sht2x/Makefile
+++ b/tests/driver_sht2x/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-APPLICATION = driver_sht2x
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 FEATURES_REQUIRED = periph_i2c
diff --git a/tests/driver_tps6274x/Makefile b/tests/driver_tps6274x/Makefile
index 7e1dbc97a3..293ec0d04b 100644
--- a/tests/driver_tps6274x/Makefile
+++ b/tests/driver_tps6274x/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-APPLICATION = driver_tps6274x
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 USEMODULE += tps6274x
diff --git a/tests/driver_vcnl40x0/Makefile b/tests/driver_vcnl40x0/Makefile
index fa901ba619..1296773e57 100644
--- a/tests/driver_vcnl40x0/Makefile
+++ b/tests/driver_vcnl40x0/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-APPLICATION = driver_vcnl40x0
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 USEMODULE += vcnl4010
diff --git a/tests/external_module_dirs/Makefile b/tests/external_module_dirs/Makefile
index 0a0c17fb7e..d271608df2 100644
--- a/tests/external_module_dirs/Makefile
+++ b/tests/external_module_dirs/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
-APPLICATION = external_module_dirs
-BOARD ?= native
-RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
-
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 USEMODULE += random
 
 USEMODULE += external_module
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_gomach/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_gomach/Makefile
index 6de1310b1b..c6dba1f96b 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_gomach/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_gomach/Makefile
@@ -1,11 +1,6 @@
-# name of your application
-APPLICATION = gomach
-
-# This has to be the absolute path to the RIOT base directory:
-RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
-
-# If no BOARD is found in the environment, use this default:
+# use samr21-xpro as default:
 BOARD ?= samr21-xpro
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 # Currently, GoMacH has only been tested and evaluated through on samr21-xpro and iotlab-m3
 # nodes. Once GoMacH has also been tested through on other devices, the whitelist should
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_lwmac/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_lwmac/Makefile
index b370d47c83..dfc17950e4 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_lwmac/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_lwmac/Makefile
@@ -1,11 +1,6 @@
-# name of your application
-APPLICATION = lwmac
-
-# This has to be the absolute path to the RIOT base directory:
-RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
-
-# If no BOARD is found in the environment, use this default:
+# use samr21-xpro as default:
 BOARD ?= samr21-xpro
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 # Currently, LWMAC is only tested and evaluated through on samr21-xpro.
 # Once LWMAC has also been tested through on other boards, the whitelist should
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_mac_timeout/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_mac_timeout/Makefile
index 28606346bc..557632cb81 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_mac_timeout/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_mac_timeout/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-APPLICATION = gnrc_mac_timeout
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 USEMODULE += gnrc_mac
diff --git a/tests/isr_yield_higher/Makefile b/tests/isr_yield_higher/Makefile
index 4aaa03f39a..8bff23ceea 100644
--- a/tests/isr_yield_higher/Makefile
+++ b/tests/isr_yield_higher/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-APPLICATION = isr_yield_higher
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 USEMODULE += xtimer
diff --git a/tests/pkg_fatfs_vfs/Makefile b/tests/pkg_fatfs_vfs/Makefile
index c61827c215..52ae1a2dc9 100644
--- a/tests/pkg_fatfs_vfs/Makefile
+++ b/tests/pkg_fatfs_vfs/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-APPLICATION = pkg_fatfs_vfs
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 USEMODULE += fatfs_vfs
diff --git a/tests/socket_zep/Makefile b/tests/socket_zep/Makefile
index 37cdc3b814..c5959295f8 100644
--- a/tests/socket_zep/Makefile
+++ b/tests/socket_zep/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-APPLICATION = socket_zep
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 BOARD_WHITELIST = native    # socket_zep is only available on native
diff --git a/tests/thread_float/Makefile b/tests/thread_float/Makefile
index cb073d322c..c2ea8f27a3 100644
--- a/tests/thread_float/Makefile
+++ b/tests/thread_float/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-APPLICATION = thread_float
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 USEMODULE += printf_float
diff --git a/tests/trace/Makefile b/tests/trace/Makefile
index 5b3efb4d3f..5d38c7e1e5 100644
--- a/tests/trace/Makefile
+++ b/tests/trace/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-# name of your application
-APPLICATION = trace
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 USEMODULE += trace