diff --git a/sys/picolibc_syscalls_default/syscalls.c b/sys/picolibc_syscalls_default/syscalls.c
index 6d896e9110..8277f3ba97 100644
--- a/sys/picolibc_syscalls_default/syscalls.c
+++ b/sys/picolibc_syscalls_default/syscalls.c
@@ -238,7 +238,9 @@ static int picolibc_get(FILE *file)
 FILE picolibc_stdio =
     FDEV_SETUP_STREAM(picolibc_put, picolibc_get, picolibc_flush, _FDEV_SETUP_RW);
 
-#ifdef PICOLIBC_STDIO_GLOBALS
+/* Since picolibc 1.8.10, PICOLIBC_STDIO_GLOBALS is prefixed with two leading
+ * underscores. We just test for both to remain backwards compatible */
+#if defined(PICOLIBC_STDIO_GLOBALS) || defined(__PICOLIBC_STDIO_GLOBALS)
 #ifdef __strong_reference
 /* This saves two const pointers.
  * See https://github.com/RIOT-OS/RIOT/pull/17001#issuecomment-945936918