diff --git a/boards/common/iotlab/Makefile.include b/boards/common/iotlab/Makefile.include
index 9af1e88235..fba8ff326e 100644
--- a/boards/common/iotlab/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/common/iotlab/Makefile.include
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ include $(RIOTMAKE)/tools/serial.inc.mk
 # Using connect_assert_srst removes errors on flash from invalid state
 export OPENOCD_RESET_USE_CONNECT_ASSERT_SRST ?= 1
 
+DEBUG_ADAPTER ?= iotlab
+
 export OPENOCD_CONFIG ?= $(RIOTBOARD)/common/iotlab/dist/openocd.cfg
 
 # this board uses openocd