diff --git a/tests/driver_dose/Makefile b/tests/driver_dose/Makefile
index 456947dcf4..be934a0cab 100644
--- a/tests/driver_dose/Makefile
+++ b/tests/driver_dose/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,16 @@
 # the driver to test
 USEMODULE += dose
 
+# compile-test dose_watchdog on select boards
+ifneq (,$(filter samr21-xpro, $(BOARD)))
+  # xtimer uses timer 1 on this board
+  CFLAGS += -DDOSE_TIMER_DEV=TIMER_DEV\(0\)
+  USEMODULE += dose_watchdog
+endif
+
+ifneq (,$(filter same54-xpro, $(BOARD)))
+  CFLAGS += -DDOSE_TIMER_DEV=TIMER_DEV\(1\)
+  USEMODULE += dose_watchdog
+endif
+
 include ../driver_netdev_common/Makefile.netdev.mk