diff --git a/sys/Makefile.dep b/sys/Makefile.dep
index f7bd98dafa..86b89e449d 100644
--- a/sys/Makefile.dep
+++ b/sys/Makefile.dep
@@ -96,11 +96,6 @@ ifneq (,$(filter ieee802154_security,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += cipher_modes
 endif
 
-ifneq (,$(filter trace,$(USEMODULE)))
-  USEMODULE += ztimer
-  USEMODULE += ztimer_usec
-endif
-
 ifneq (,$(filter shell_lock,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += ztimer_msec
 endif
diff --git a/sys/trace/Makefile.dep b/sys/trace/Makefile.dep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d5c7b40f31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sys/trace/Makefile.dep
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+USEMODULE += ztimer
+USEMODULE += ztimer_usec