diff --git a/Makefile.include b/Makefile.include
index cee04a2a7741a5cffd37f4fb53ffaf2c9908a9f9..e4ff6b2efdab7a2856ec5ed2044627d568a1665d 100644
--- a/Makefile.include
+++ b/Makefile.include
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ else
 endif
 export AD
 
+BOARD := $(strip $(BOARD))
+
 # mandatory includes!
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.modules
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/$(BOARD)/Makefile.include