diff --git a/makefiles/tools/riotboot_serial.inc.mk b/makefiles/tools/riotboot_serial.inc.mk
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..46d9bd7c9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/makefiles/tools/riotboot_serial.inc.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+RIOTBOOT_SERIAL := $(RIOTTOOLS)/riotboot_serial/riotboot_serial
+
+FLASHER   ?= $(RIOTBOOT_SERIAL)
+FLASHFILE ?= $(HEXFILE)
+PROG_BAUD ?= 115200
+FFLAGS    ?= $(FLASHFILE) $(PORT) $(PROG_BAUD)
+
+ROM_OFFSET ?= $(RIOTBOOT_LEN)
+
+FLASHDEPS += $(RIOTBOOT_SERIAL)
+
+$(RIOTBOOT_SERIAL):
+	$(Q)env -u CC -u CFLAGS $(MAKE) -C $(RIOTTOOLS)/riotboot_serial