diff --git a/cpu/nrf52/include/periph_cpu.h b/cpu/nrf52/include/periph_cpu.h
index 7f3bef6051..ae3ca87a8f 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf52/include/periph_cpu.h
+++ b/cpu/nrf52/include/periph_cpu.h
@@ -264,6 +264,38 @@ void spi_twi_irq_register_spi(NRF_SPIM_Type *bus,
 void spi_twi_irq_register_i2c(NRF_TWIM_Type *bus,
                               spi_twi_irq_cb_t cb, void *arg);
 
+/**
+ * @brief   Acquire the shared I2C/SPI peripheral in I2C mode
+ *
+ * @param   bus bus to acquire exclusive access on
+ * @param   cb  ISR handler to call on IRQ
+ * @param   arg ISR handler argument
+ */
+void nrf5x_i2c_acquire(NRF_TWIM_Type *bus, spi_twi_irq_cb_t cb, void *arg);
+
+/**
+ * @brief   Release the shared I2C/SPI peripheral in I2C mode
+ *
+ * @param   bus bus to release exclusive access on
+ */
+void nrf5x_i2c_release(NRF_TWIM_Type *bus);
+
+/**
+ * @brief   Acquire the shared I2C/SPI peripheral in SPI mode
+ *
+ * @param   bus bus to release exclusive access on
+ * @param   cb  ISR handler to call on IRQ
+ * @param   arg ISR handler argument
+ */
+void nrf5x_spi_acquire(NRF_SPIM_Type *bus, spi_twi_irq_cb_t cb, void *arg);
+
+/**
+ * @brief   Acquire the shared I2C/SPI peripheral in SPI mode
+ *
+ * @param   bus bus to release exclusive access on
+ */
+void nrf5x_spi_release(NRF_SPIM_Type *bus);
+
 /**
  * @brief USBDEV buffers must be word aligned because of DMA restrictions
  */
diff --git a/cpu/nrf52/spi_twi_irq.c b/cpu/nrf52/spi_twi_irq.c
index 73fa24751d..30083c16a9 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf52/spi_twi_irq.c
+++ b/cpu/nrf52/spi_twi_irq.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include <assert.h>
 
 #include "cpu.h"
+#include "mutex.h"
 #include "periph_cpu.h"
 
 #if NRF_SPIM0_BASE != NRF_TWIM0_BASE
@@ -59,6 +60,8 @@
 static spi_twi_irq_cb_t _irq[SPIM_COUNT];
 static void *_irq_arg[SPIM_COUNT];
 
+static mutex_t _locks[SPIM_COUNT];
+
 /* I2C and SPI share peripheral addresses */
 static size_t _spi_dev2num(void *dev)
 {
@@ -137,9 +140,40 @@ void spi_twi_irq_register_i2c(NRF_TWIM_Type *bus,
 
     _irq[num] = cb;
     _irq_arg[num] = arg;
+
     NVIC_EnableIRQ(_isr[num]);
 }
 
+void nrf5x_i2c_acquire(NRF_TWIM_Type *bus,
+                       spi_twi_irq_cb_t cb, void *arg)
+{
+    size_t num = _i2c_dev2num(bus);
+    mutex_lock(&_locks[num]);
+    _irq[num] = cb;
+    _irq_arg[num] = arg;
+}
+
+void nrf5x_spi_acquire(NRF_SPIM_Type *bus,
+                       spi_twi_irq_cb_t cb, void *arg)
+{
+    size_t num = _spi_dev2num(bus);
+    mutex_lock(&_locks[num]);
+    _irq[num] = cb;
+    _irq_arg[num] = arg;
+}
+
+void nrf5x_i2c_release(NRF_TWIM_Type *bus)
+{
+    size_t num = _i2c_dev2num(bus);
+    mutex_unlock(&_locks[num]);
+}
+
+void nrf5x_spi_release(NRF_SPIM_Type *bus)
+{
+    size_t num = _spi_dev2num(bus);
+    mutex_unlock(&_locks[num]);
+}
+
 void ISR_SPIM0(void)
 {
     _irq[0](_irq_arg[0]);
diff --git a/cpu/nrf5x_common/periph/i2c_nrf52_nrf9160.c b/cpu/nrf5x_common/periph/i2c_nrf52_nrf9160.c
index 8069051535..0c9070ad16 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf5x_common/periph/i2c_nrf52_nrf9160.c
+++ b/cpu/nrf5x_common/periph/i2c_nrf52_nrf9160.c
@@ -102,8 +102,18 @@ static void _init_pins(i2c_t dev)
 {
     gpio_init(i2c_config[dev].scl, GPIO_IN_OD_PU);
     gpio_init(i2c_config[dev].sda, GPIO_IN_OD_PU);
+}
+
+/* Beware: This needs to be kept in sync with the SPI version of this.
+ * Specifically, when registers are configured that are valid to the peripheral
+ * in both SPI and I2C mode, the register needs to be configured in both the I2C
+ * and the SPI variant of _setup_shared_peripheral() to avoid from parameters
+ * leaking from one bus into the other */
+static void _setup_shared_peripheral(i2c_t dev)
+{
     bus(dev)->PSEL.SCL = i2c_config[dev].scl;
     bus(dev)->PSEL.SDA = i2c_config[dev].sda;
+    bus(dev)->FREQUENCY = i2c_config[dev].speed;
 }
 
 void i2c_init(i2c_t dev)
@@ -111,7 +121,6 @@ void i2c_init(i2c_t dev)
     assert(dev < I2C_NUMOF);
 
     /* Initialize mutex */
-    mutex_init(&locks[dev]);
     mutex_init(&busy[dev]);
     mutex_lock(&busy[dev]);
 
@@ -122,8 +131,8 @@ void i2c_init(i2c_t dev)
     /* configure pins */
     _init_pins(dev);
 
-    /* configure dev clock speed */
-    bus(dev)->FREQUENCY = i2c_config[dev].speed;
+    /* configure shared periphal speed */
+    _setup_shared_peripheral(dev);
 
     spi_twi_irq_register_i2c(bus(dev), i2c_isr_handler, (void *)(uintptr_t)dev);
 
@@ -158,7 +167,13 @@ void i2c_acquire(i2c_t dev)
 {
     assert(dev < I2C_NUMOF);
 
-    mutex_lock(&locks[dev]);
+    if (IS_USED(MODULE_PERIPH_I2C_RECONFIGURE)) {
+        mutex_lock(&locks[dev]);
+    }
+
+    nrf5x_i2c_acquire(bus(dev), i2c_isr_handler, (void *)(uintptr_t)dev);
+    _setup_shared_peripheral(dev);
+
     bus(dev)->ENABLE = TWIM_ENABLE_ENABLE_Enabled;
 
     DEBUG("[i2c] acquired dev %i\n", (int)dev);
@@ -169,7 +184,12 @@ void i2c_release(i2c_t dev)
     assert(dev < I2C_NUMOF);
 
     bus(dev)->ENABLE = TWIM_ENABLE_ENABLE_Disabled;
-    mutex_unlock(&locks[dev]);
+
+    if (IS_USED(MODULE_PERIPH_I2C_RECONFIGURE)) {
+        mutex_unlock(&locks[dev]);
+    }
+
+    nrf5x_i2c_release(bus(dev));
 
     DEBUG("[i2c] released dev %i\n", (int)dev);
 }
diff --git a/cpu/nrf5x_common/periph/spi_nrf52_nrf9160.c b/cpu/nrf5x_common/periph/spi_nrf52_nrf9160.c
index 6161a2fb1f..e14e8d7062 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf5x_common/periph/spi_nrf52_nrf9160.c
+++ b/cpu/nrf5x_common/periph/spi_nrf52_nrf9160.c
@@ -123,16 +123,28 @@ static void _clear_workaround(spi_t bus)
 #endif
 }
 
+/* Beware: This needs to be kept in sync with the I2C version of this.
+ * Specifically, when registers are configured that are valid to the peripheral
+ * in both SPI and I2C mode, the register needs to be configured in both the I2C
+ * and the SPI variant of _setup_shared_peripheral() to avoid from parameters
+ * leaking from one bus into the other */
+static void _setup_shared_peripheral(spi_t bus)
+{
+    SPI_SCKSEL = spi_config[bus].sclk;
+    SPI_MOSISEL = spi_config[bus].mosi;
+    SPI_MISOSEL = spi_config[bus].miso;
+}
+
 void spi_init(spi_t bus)
 {
     assert(bus < SPI_NUMOF);
 
     /* initialize mutex */
-    mutex_init(&locks[bus]);
     mutex_init(&busy[bus]);
     mutex_lock(&busy[bus]);
     /* initialize pins */
     spi_init_pins(bus);
+    _setup_shared_peripheral(bus);
 }
 
 int spi_init_with_gpio_mode(spi_t bus, const spi_gpio_mode_t* mode)
@@ -165,9 +177,6 @@ void spi_init_pins(spi_t bus)
     spi_init_with_gpio_mode(bus, &gpio_modes);
 
     /* select pins for the SPI device */
-    SPI_SCKSEL = spi_config[bus].sclk;
-    SPI_MOSISEL = spi_config[bus].mosi;
-    SPI_MISOSEL = spi_config[bus].miso;
     _setup_workaround_for_ftpan_58(bus);
     spi_twi_irq_register_spi(dev(bus), spi_isr_handler, (void *)(uintptr_t)bus);
 }
@@ -177,7 +186,13 @@ void spi_acquire(spi_t bus, spi_cs_t cs, spi_mode_t mode, spi_clk_t clk)
     (void)cs;
     assert((unsigned)bus < SPI_NUMOF);
 
-    mutex_lock(&locks[bus]);
+    if (IS_USED(MODULE_PERIPH_SPI_RECONFIGURE)) {
+        mutex_lock(&locks[bus]);
+    }
+
+    nrf5x_spi_acquire(dev(bus), spi_isr_handler, (void *)(uintptr_t)bus);
+    _setup_shared_peripheral(bus);
+
     /* configure bus */
     dev(bus)->CONFIG = mode;
     dev(bus)->FREQUENCY = clk;
@@ -189,7 +204,12 @@ void spi_release(spi_t bus)
 {
     /* power off everything */
     dev(bus)->ENABLE = 0;
-    mutex_unlock(&locks[bus]);
+
+    if (IS_USED(MODULE_PERIPH_SPI_RECONFIGURE)) {
+        mutex_unlock(&locks[bus]);
+    }
+
+    nrf5x_spi_release(dev(bus));
 }
 
 static size_t _transfer(spi_t bus, const uint8_t *out_buf, uint8_t *in_buf,
diff --git a/cpu/nrf9160/include/periph_cpu.h b/cpu/nrf9160/include/periph_cpu.h
index a0576bc217..7e162da886 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf9160/include/periph_cpu.h
+++ b/cpu/nrf9160/include/periph_cpu.h
@@ -208,6 +208,38 @@ void spi_twi_irq_register_spi(NRF_SPIM_Type *bus,
 void spi_twi_irq_register_i2c(NRF_TWIM_Type *bus,
                               spi_twi_irq_cb_t cb, void *arg);
 
+/**
+ * @brief   Acquire the shared I2C/SPI peripheral in I2C mode
+ *
+ * @param   bus bus to acquire exclusive access on
+ * @param   cb  ISR handler to call on IRQ
+ * @param   arg ISR handler argument
+ */
+void nrf5x_i2c_acquire(NRF_TWIM_Type *bus, spi_twi_irq_cb_t cb, void *arg);
+
+/**
+ * @brief   Release the shared I2C/SPI peripheral in I2C mode
+ *
+ * @param   bus bus to release exclusive access on
+ */
+void nrf5x_i2c_release(NRF_TWIM_Type *bus);
+
+/**
+ * @brief   Acquire the shared I2C/SPI peripheral in SPI mode
+ *
+ * @param   bus bus to release exclusive access on
+ * @param   cb  ISR handler to call on IRQ
+ * @param   arg ISR handler argument
+ */
+void nrf5x_spi_acquire(NRF_SPIM_Type *bus, spi_twi_irq_cb_t cb, void *arg);
+
+/**
+ * @brief   Acquire the shared I2C/SPI peripheral in SPI mode
+ *
+ * @param   bus bus to release exclusive access on
+ */
+void nrf5x_spi_release(NRF_SPIM_Type *bus);
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/cpu/nrf9160/spi_twi_irq.c b/cpu/nrf9160/spi_twi_irq.c
index 8aad154a9f..ee98dfea06 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf9160/spi_twi_irq.c
+++ b/cpu/nrf9160/spi_twi_irq.c
@@ -24,12 +24,15 @@
 #include <assert.h>
 
 #include "cpu.h"
+#include "mutex.h"
 #include "periph_cpu.h"
 #include "periph_conf.h"
 
 static spi_twi_irq_cb_t _irq[TWIM_COUNT];
 static void *_irq_arg[TWIM_COUNT];
 
+static mutex_t _locks[SPIM_COUNT];
+
 #if TWIM_COUNT != SPIM_COUNT
 #error Possible configuration issue, please update this file
 #endif
@@ -88,6 +91,36 @@ void spi_twi_irq_register_i2c(NRF_TWIM_Type *bus,
     NVIC_EnableIRQ(_isr[num]);
 }
 
+void nrf5x_i2c_acquire(NRF_TWIM_Type *bus,
+                       spi_twi_irq_cb_t cb, void *arg)
+{
+    size_t num = _i2c_dev2num(bus);
+    mutex_lock(&_locks[num]);
+    _irq[num] = cb;
+    _irq_arg[num] = arg;
+}
+
+void nrf5x_spi_acquire(NRF_SPIM_Type *bus,
+                       spi_twi_irq_cb_t cb, void *arg)
+{
+    size_t num = _spi_dev2num(bus);
+    mutex_lock(&_locks[num]);
+    _irq[num] = cb;
+    _irq_arg[num] = arg;
+}
+
+void nrf5x_i2c_release(NRF_TWIM_Type *bus)
+{
+    size_t num = _i2c_dev2num(bus);
+    mutex_unlock(&_locks[num]);
+}
+
+void nrf5x_spi_release(NRF_SPIM_Type *bus)
+{
+    size_t num = _spi_dev2num(bus);
+    mutex_unlock(&_locks[num]);
+}
+
 /* Check if UART driver doesn't already use the same IRQ */
 #ifndef UART_0_ISR
 void isr_uarte0_spim0_spis0_twim0_twis0(void)