diff --git a/tests/build_system/test_tools/Makefile b/tests/build_system/test_tools/Makefile
index 8a96460ee26e..0318dca588c0 100644
--- a/tests/build_system/test_tools/Makefile
+++ b/tests/build_system/test_tools/Makefile
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@ include ../Makefile.build_system_common
 
 USEMODULE += shell
 
+ifeq (native, $(BOARD))
+  RIOT_TERMINAL ?= native
+endif
+
 # No need for test_utils_interactive_sync in this test since the test
 # synchronizes by itself through `shellping` command.
 DISABLE_MODULE += test_utils_interactive_sync