diff --git a/boards/samd21-xpro/Makefile.include b/boards/samd21-xpro/Makefile.include
index 06056fc464fa10838866606bf83a6cae470e7820..427ba1fb7d528bce307afb05b1e3d4c7c3235cad 100644
--- a/boards/samd21-xpro/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/samd21-xpro/Makefile.include
@@ -2,4 +2,7 @@
 export CPU = samd21
 export CPU_MODEL = samd21j18a
 
+# set edbg device type
+EDBG_DEVICE_TYPE = atmel_cm0p
+
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/boards/sam0.inc.mk