diff --git a/boards/common/blxxxpill/Makefile.include b/boards/common/blxxxpill/Makefile.include
index 39e626947f..88d8c7895d 100644
--- a/boards/common/blxxxpill/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/common/blxxxpill/Makefile.include
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ INCLUDES += -I$(RIOTBOARD)/common/blxxxpill/include
 # For older versions of the DFU bootloader, set DFU_USB_ID to 1d50:6017
 DFU_USB_ID ?= 1eaf:0003
 DFU_ALT ?= 2
-DFU_USE_DFUSE = 1
+DFU_USE_DFUSE ?= 1
+
 # If using STM32duino bootloader, this change is necessary.
 # Bootloader available at
 # github.com/rogerclarkmelbourne/STM32duino-bootloader/tree/master/binaries
diff --git a/boards/common/weact-f4x1cx/Makefile.include b/boards/common/weact-f4x1cx/Makefile.include
index ba36e4840f..dedee74c9e 100644
--- a/boards/common/weact-f4x1cx/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/common/weact-f4x1cx/Makefile.include
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ INCLUDES += -I$(RIOTBOARD)/common/weact-f4x1cx/include
 # default to flashing over USB
 PROGRAMMER ?= dfu-util
 DFU_USB_ID ?= 0483:df11
-DFU_USE_DFUSE = 1
+DFU_USE_DFUSE ?= 1
 ROM_OFFSET ?= 0x0
 
 # CDC ACM is available faster on STM32
diff --git a/boards/nz32-sc151/Makefile.include b/boards/nz32-sc151/Makefile.include
index 955a8ee607..c82ea3a59f 100644
--- a/boards/nz32-sc151/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/nz32-sc151/Makefile.include
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ PORT_DARWIN ?= $(firstword $(sort $(wildcard /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART*)))
 
 # this board is flashed using DFU
 PROGRAMMER ?= dfu-util
-DFU_USB_ID = 0483:df11
-DFU_USE_DFUSE = 1
+DFU_USB_ID ?= 0483:df11
+DFU_USE_DFUSE ?= 1
 
 # dfu-util programmer is supported
 PROGRAMMERS_SUPPORTED += dfu-util
diff --git a/boards/pyboard/Makefile.include b/boards/pyboard/Makefile.include
index a0f16db3f3..d451b22cee 100644
--- a/boards/pyboard/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/pyboard/Makefile.include
@@ -8,5 +8,5 @@ PORT_DARWIN ?= $(firstword $(sort $(wildcard /dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART*)))
 # this board is flashed using DFU
 PROGRAMMER ?= dfu-util
 PROGRAMMERS_SUPPORTED += dfu-util
-DFU_USB_ID = 1d50:607f
-DFU_USE_DFUSE = 1
+DFU_USB_ID ?= 1d50:607f
+DFU_USE_DFUSE ?= 1
diff --git a/boards/spark-core/Makefile.include b/boards/spark-core/Makefile.include
index 676e629259..1a386b793d 100644
--- a/boards/spark-core/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/spark-core/Makefile.include
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ ROM_OFFSET ?= 0x5000
 
 # this board is flashed using DFU
 PROGRAMMER ?= dfu-util
-DFU_USB_ID = 1d50:607f
-DFU_USE_DFUSE = 1
+DFU_USB_ID ?= 1d50:607f
+DFU_USE_DFUSE ?= 1
 
 PROGRAMMERS_SUPPORTED += dfu-util