diff --git a/Makefile.buildtests b/Makefile.buildtests
index 1c161ef8ef..7037278fe6 100644
--- a/Makefile.buildtests
+++ b/Makefile.buildtests
@@ -169,8 +169,16 @@ info-build:
 	@echo 'ELFFILE: $(ELFFILE)'
 	@echo 'HEXFILE: $(HEXFILE)'
 	@echo ''
-	@echo 'FEATURES_REQUIRED: $(sort $(FEATURES_REQUIRED))'
-	@echo 'FEATURES_PROVIDED: $(sort $(FEATURES_PROVIDED))'
+	@echo 'FEATURES_REQUIRED (excl. optional features):'
+	@echo '         $(or $(sort $(filter-out $(FEATURES_OPTIONAL), $(FEATURES_REQUIRED))), -none-)'
+	@echo 'FEATURES_OPTIONAL (strictly "nice to have"):'
+	@echo '         $(or $(sort $(FEATURES_OPTIONAL)), -none-)'
+	@echo 'FEATURES_PROVIDED (by the board or USEMODULE'"'"'d drivers):'
+	@echo '         $(or $(sort $(FEATURES_PROVIDED)), -none-)'
+	@echo 'FEATURES_MISSING (incl. optional features):'
+	@echo '         $(or $(sort $(filter-out $(FEATURES_PROVIDED), $(FEATURES_REQUIRED))), -none-)'
+	@echo 'FEATURES_MISSING (only non-optional features):'
+	@echo '         $(or $(sort $(filter-out $(FEATURES_OPTIONAL) $(FEATURES_PROVIDED), $(FEATURES_REQUIRED))), -none-)'
 	@echo ''
 	@echo 'CC:      $(CC)'
 	@echo -e 'CFLAGS:$(patsubst %, \n\t%, $(CFLAGS))'
@@ -215,17 +223,22 @@ info-features-missing:
 info-boards-features-missing:
 	@for f in $(BOARDS_FEATURES_MISSING); do echo $${f}; done | column -t
 
+FEATURES_REQUIRED += $(FEATURES_OPTIONAL)
+
 ifneq (, $(filter info-boards-supported info-boards-features-missing info-build, $(MAKECMDGOALS)))
   FEATURES_PROVIDED_BAK := $(FEATURES_PROVIDED)
 
   define board_missing_features
-    FEATURES_PROVIDED :=
+    FEATURES_PROVIDED := $(FEATURES_PROVIDED_BAK)
     -include $${RIOTBOARD}/${1}/Makefile.features
 
     FEATURES_MISSING := $$(filter-out $$(FEATURES_PROVIDED), $$(FEATURES_REQUIRED))
     ifneq (, $${FEATURES_MISSING})
-      BOARDS_WITH_MISSING_FEATURES += ${1}
       BOARDS_FEATURES_MISSING += "${1} $${FEATURES_MISSING}"
+
+      ifneq (, $$(filter-out $$(FEATURES_OPTIONAL), $$(FEATURES_MISSING)))
+        BOARDS_WITH_MISSING_FEATURES += ${1}
+      endif
     endif
   endef
 
diff --git a/Makefile.include b/Makefile.include
index 5daf23058c..1144efbd5a 100644
--- a/Makefile.include
+++ b/Makefile.include
@@ -77,9 +77,6 @@ ifeq ($(strip $(MCU)),)
 	MCU = $(CPU)
 endif
 
-# import list of provided features
--include $(RIOTBOARD)/$(BOARD)/Makefile.features
-
 # if you want to publish the board into the sources as an uppercase #define
 BOARDDEF := $(shell echo $(BOARD) | tr 'a-z' 'A-Z' | tr '-' '_')
 CPUDEF := $(shell echo $(CPU) | tr 'a-z' 'A-Z' | tr '-' '_')
@@ -205,10 +202,15 @@ objdump:
 # Extra make goals for testing and comparing changes.
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.buildtests
 
+# import list of provided features
+-include $(RIOTBOARD)/$(BOARD)/Makefile.features
+
 # Export variables used throughout the whole make system:
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.vars
 
+# Warn if the selected board and drivers don't provide all needed featues:
 ifneq (, $(filter all, $(if $(MAKECMDGOALS), $(MAKECMDGOALS), all)))
+
   EXPECT_ERRORS :=
 
   # Test if there where dependencies against a module in DISABLE_MODULE.
@@ -219,9 +221,9 @@ ifneq (, $(filter all, $(if $(MAKECMDGOALS), $(MAKECMDGOALS), all)))
   endif
 
   # Test if all feature requirements were met by the selected board.
-  ifneq (, $(filter-out $(FEATURES_PROVIDED), $(FEATURES_REQUIRED)))
+  ifneq (, $(filter-out $(FEATURES_PROVIDED) $(FEATURES_OPTIONAL), $(FEATURES_REQUIRED)))
     $(shell $(COLOR_ECHO) "$(COLOR_RED)There are unsatisfied feature requirements:$(COLOR_RESET)"\
-                          "$(filter-out $(FEATURES_PROVIDED), $(FEATURES_REQUIRED))" 1>&2)
+                          "$(sort $(filter-out $(FEATURES_PROVIDED) $(FEATURES_OPTIONAL), $(FEATURES_REQUIRED)))" 1>&2)
     EXPECT_ERRORS := 1
   endif
 
diff --git a/Makefile.modules b/Makefile.modules
index 3728ae6a1d..9411480d58 100644
--- a/Makefile.modules
+++ b/Makefile.modules
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ USEMODULE += $(filter-out $(DISABLE_MODULE), $(DEFAULT_MODULE))
 
 INCLUDES += -I$(RIOTBASE)/core/include -I$(RIOTBASE)/drivers/include -I$(RIOTBASE)/sys/include
 ED = $(patsubst %,-DMODULE_%,$(subst -,_,$(USEMODULE) $(USEPKG)))
+ED += $(patsubst %,-DFEATURE_%,$(subst -,_,$(filter $(FEATURES_PROVIDED), $(FEATURES_REQUIRED))))
 EXTDEFINES = $(shell echo $(sort $(ED))|tr 'a-z' 'A-Z')
 REALMODULES = $(filter-out $(PSEUDOMODULES), $(sort $(USEMODULE)))
 export BASELIBS += $(REALMODULES:%=$(BINDIR)%.a)
diff --git a/boards/arduino-due/Makefile.features b/boards/arduino-due/Makefile.features
index 9b7846ee4a..9be17cbb4b 100644
--- a/boards/arduino-due/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/arduino-due/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = periph_gpio periph_spi periph_random
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_gpio periph_spi periph_random
diff --git a/boards/arduino-mega2560/Makefile.features b/boards/arduino-mega2560/Makefile.features
index 177003f9fc..a1c6779345 100644
--- a/boards/arduino-mega2560/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/arduino-mega2560/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED =
+FEATURES_PROVIDED +=
diff --git a/boards/avsextrem/Makefile.features b/boards/avsextrem/Makefile.features
index 762734b956..af23a974c8 100644
--- a/boards/avsextrem/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/avsextrem/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = transceiver
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += transceiver
diff --git a/boards/cc2538dk/Makefile.features b/boards/cc2538dk/Makefile.features
index 42f40abd5f..68545ecde2 100644
--- a/boards/cc2538dk/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/cc2538dk/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = periph_gpio periph_random periph_cpuid
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_gpio periph_random periph_cpuid
diff --git a/boards/iot-lab_M3/Makefile.features b/boards/iot-lab_M3/Makefile.features
index 0c2220101c..dc1292029c 100644
--- a/boards/iot-lab_M3/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/iot-lab_M3/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = transceiver periph_gpio periph_uart periph_spi periph_i2c periph_rtt
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += transceiver periph_gpio periph_uart periph_spi periph_i2c periph_rtt
diff --git a/boards/msb-430h/Makefile.features b/boards/msb-430h/Makefile.features
index 762734b956..af23a974c8 100644
--- a/boards/msb-430h/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/msb-430h/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = transceiver
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += transceiver
diff --git a/boards/msba2/Makefile.features b/boards/msba2/Makefile.features
index 75b005a0cb..8876943e34 100644
--- a/boards/msba2/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/msba2/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = transceiver periph_pwm
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += transceiver periph_pwm
diff --git a/boards/msbiot/Makefile.features b/boards/msbiot/Makefile.features
index 0f33fa5629..12b64e8090 100644
--- a/boards/msbiot/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/msbiot/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = periph_gpio
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_gpio
diff --git a/boards/native/Makefile.features b/boards/native/Makefile.features
index 91747cc078..7cd83d3843 100644
--- a/boards/native/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/native/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = transceiver periph_cpuid
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += transceiver periph_cpuid
diff --git a/boards/openmote/Makefile.features b/boards/openmote/Makefile.features
index 42f40abd5f..68545ecde2 100644
--- a/boards/openmote/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/openmote/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = periph_gpio periph_random periph_cpuid
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_gpio periph_random periph_cpuid
diff --git a/boards/pca10000/Makefile.features b/boards/pca10000/Makefile.features
index c21f92a56a..ec97f16d19 100644
--- a/boards/pca10000/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/pca10000/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = periph_gpio periph_random periph_rtt periph_cpuid
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_gpio periph_random periph_rtt periph_cpuid
diff --git a/boards/pca10005/Makefile.features b/boards/pca10005/Makefile.features
index c21f92a56a..ec97f16d19 100644
--- a/boards/pca10005/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/pca10005/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = periph_gpio periph_random periph_rtt periph_cpuid
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_gpio periph_random periph_rtt periph_cpuid
diff --git a/boards/pttu/Makefile.features b/boards/pttu/Makefile.features
index bb7f2c751d..9efa2cc57f 100644
--- a/boards/pttu/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/pttu/Makefile.features
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 # Enable this after fixing https://github.com/RIOT-OS/RIOT/issues/659
-#FEATURES_PROVIDED = transceiver
+#FEATURES_PROVIDED += transceiver
diff --git a/boards/redbee-econotag/Makefile.features b/boards/redbee-econotag/Makefile.features
index 762734b956..af23a974c8 100644
--- a/boards/redbee-econotag/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/redbee-econotag/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = transceiver
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += transceiver
diff --git a/boards/samr21-xpro/Makefile.features b/boards/samr21-xpro/Makefile.features
index 0f33fa5629..12b64e8090 100644
--- a/boards/samr21-xpro/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/samr21-xpro/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = periph_gpio
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_gpio
diff --git a/boards/stm32f0discovery/Makefile.features b/boards/stm32f0discovery/Makefile.features
index 9ac4a53d6b..026c14e2be 100644
--- a/boards/stm32f0discovery/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/stm32f0discovery/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = periph_gpio periph_spi
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_gpio periph_spi
diff --git a/boards/stm32f3discovery/Makefile.features b/boards/stm32f3discovery/Makefile.features
index 0f33fa5629..12b64e8090 100644
--- a/boards/stm32f3discovery/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/stm32f3discovery/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = periph_gpio
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_gpio
diff --git a/boards/stm32f4discovery/Makefile.features b/boards/stm32f4discovery/Makefile.features
index 548a0f3f4c..a7ee3b28fe 100644
--- a/boards/stm32f4discovery/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/stm32f4discovery/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = periph_gpio periph_spi periph_pwm periph_random
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_gpio periph_spi periph_pwm periph_random
diff --git a/boards/telosb/Makefile.features b/boards/telosb/Makefile.features
index 762734b956..af23a974c8 100644
--- a/boards/telosb/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/telosb/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = transceiver
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += transceiver
diff --git a/boards/udoo/Makefile.features b/boards/udoo/Makefile.features
index 0f33fa5629..12b64e8090 100644
--- a/boards/udoo/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/udoo/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = periph_gpio
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_gpio
diff --git a/boards/wsn430-v1_3b/Makefile.features b/boards/wsn430-v1_3b/Makefile.features
index 762734b956..af23a974c8 100644
--- a/boards/wsn430-v1_3b/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/wsn430-v1_3b/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = transceiver
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += transceiver
diff --git a/boards/wsn430-v1_4/Makefile.features b/boards/wsn430-v1_4/Makefile.features
index 762734b956..af23a974c8 100644
--- a/boards/wsn430-v1_4/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/wsn430-v1_4/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = transceiver
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += transceiver
diff --git a/boards/yunjia-nrf51822/Makefile.features b/boards/yunjia-nrf51822/Makefile.features
index c21f92a56a..ec97f16d19 100644
--- a/boards/yunjia-nrf51822/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/yunjia-nrf51822/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = periph_gpio periph_random periph_rtt periph_cpuid
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_gpio periph_random periph_rtt periph_cpuid
diff --git a/boards/z1/Makefile.features b/boards/z1/Makefile.features
index 762734b956..af23a974c8 100644
--- a/boards/z1/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/z1/Makefile.features
@@ -1 +1 @@
-FEATURES_PROVIDED = transceiver
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += transceiver
diff --git a/examples/default/Makefile b/examples/default/Makefile
index 33746afc9c..fa481bfd49 100644
--- a/examples/default/Makefile
+++ b/examples/default/Makefile
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ USEMODULE += ps
 USEMODULE += vtimer
 USEMODULE += defaulttransceiver
 
+FEATURES_OPTIONAL += transceiver
+
 ifneq (,$(filter msb-430,$(BOARD)))
 	USEMODULE += sht11
 endif