diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/Makefile.include b/boards/common/msba2/Makefile.include
index db624de2b4ed..fd5f5d39e198 100644
--- a/boards/common/msba2/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/common/msba2/Makefile.include
@@ -1,7 +1,18 @@
+BOARDS_COMMON_MSBA2_DIR := $(patsubst %/,%,$(dir $(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))))
+
 ## the cpu to build for
 export CPU = lpc2387
 
-FLASHER = lpc2k_pgm
+# Compile `lpc2k_pgm` when required
+# It is still compiling in `boards` as it was the case before introducing the
+# rule to autobuild
+MSBA2_TOOLS = $(BOARDS_COMMON_MSBA2_DIR)/tools
+LPC2K_PGM = $(MSBA2_TOOLS)/bin/lpc2k_pgm
+$(LPC2K_PGM): FORCE
+	env -i PATH=$(PATH) make -C $(MSBA2_TOOLS)
+FLASHDEPS += $(if $(findstring $(LPC2K_PGM),$(FLASHER)),$(LPC2K_PGM))
+
+FLASHER ?= $(LPC2K_PGM)
 
 # configure serial interface
 PORT_LINUX ?= /dev/ttyUSB0