diff --git a/tests/candev/Makefile b/tests/candev/Makefile
index 7ffdba6b5a..e6b1cd43ee 100644
--- a/tests/candev/Makefile
+++ b/tests/candev/Makefile
@@ -1,20 +1,16 @@
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
-# the test currently only works with can_linux, so on "native"
-BOARD_WHITELIST := native
-
 USEMODULE += shell
 USEMODULE += can
 USEMODULE += isrpipe
 
+FEATURES_OPTIONAL += periph_can
+
 # define the CAN driver you want to use here
-CAN_DRIVER ?= CAN_NATIVE
+CAN_DRIVER ?= CAN_EXT
 
-ifeq ($(CAN_DRIVER), PERIPH_CAN)
-# periph_can modules/variables go here
-
-else ifeq ($(CAN_DRIVER), CAN_NATIVE)
-# can_native modules/variables go here
+ifeq ($(CAN_DRIVER), CAN_EXT)
+# external CAN driver modules/variables go here
 
 endif
 
diff --git a/tests/candev/main.c b/tests/candev/main.c
index 57c5570a2b..21c29d724e 100644
--- a/tests/candev/main.c
+++ b/tests/candev/main.c
@@ -30,11 +30,12 @@
 #include "shell.h"
 #include "can/device.h"
 
-#if IS_USED(MODULE_CAN_LINUX)
+#if IS_USED(MODULE_PERIPH_CAN)
 
-#include <candev_linux.h>
+#include "periph/can.h"
+#include "can_params.h"
 
-static can_t linux_dev;
+static can_t periph_dev;
 
 #else
 /* add other candev drivers here */
@@ -192,10 +193,10 @@ int main(void)
     puts("candev test application\n");
 
     isrpipe_init(&rxbuf, (uint8_t *)rx_ringbuf, sizeof(rx_ringbuf));
-#if IS_USED(MODULE_CAN_LINUX)
-    puts("Initializing Linux Can device");
-    can_init( &linux_dev, &(candev_conf[0]));    /* vcan0 */
-    candev = (candev_t *)&linux_dev;
+#if IS_USED(MODULE_PERIPH_CAN)
+    puts("Initializing CAN periph device");
+    can_init(&periph_dev, &(candev_conf[0]));    /* vcan0 on native */
+    candev = (candev_t *)&periph_dev;
 #else
     /* add initialization for other candev drivers here */
 #endif