diff --git a/Makefile.include b/Makefile.include
index b08d6fb7ed..b6cd9e3db1 100644
--- a/Makefile.include
+++ b/Makefile.include
@@ -317,6 +317,7 @@ BASELIBS += $(APPDEPS)
 
 ELFFILE ?= $(BINDIR)/$(APPLICATION).elf
 HEXFILE ?= $(ELFFILE:.elf=.hex)
+BINFILE ?= $(ELFFILE:.elf=.bin)
 
 # variables used to compile and link c++
 CPPMIX ?= $(if $(wildcard *.cpp),1,)
@@ -355,8 +356,11 @@ $(BINDIR)/$(APPLICATION_MODULE).a: FORCE
 print-size: $(ELFFILE)
 	$(Q)$(SIZE) $<
 
-$(HEXFILE): $(ELFFILE)
-	$(Q)$(OBJCOPY) $(OFLAGS) $< $@
+%.hex: %.elf
+	$(Q)$(OBJCOPY) $(OFLAGS) -Oihex $< $@
+
+%.bin: %.elf
+	$(Q)$(OBJCOPY) $(OFLAGS) -Obinary $< $@
 
 endif # BUILD_IN_DOCKER
 
diff --git a/boards/native/Makefile.include b/boards/native/Makefile.include
index 0fe2faae66..3d739ac2d0 100644
--- a/boards/native/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/native/Makefile.include
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@ else
     export OBJCOPY ?= gobjcopy
     export OFLAGS ?= -O ihex
   else
-    # If gobjcopy is not available, just create an empty file. The hexfile
+    # If gobjcopy is not available, just do nothing. The hexfile
     # is not used for native anyways.
-    export OBJCOPY ?= touch
+    export OBJCOPY ?= true
     export OFLAGS =
   endif
 endif