diff --git a/drivers/ws281x/atmega.c b/drivers/ws281x/atmega.c
index b549d39812..4b9f439750 100644
--- a/drivers/ws281x/atmega.c
+++ b/drivers/ws281x/atmega.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 #include "ws281x_params.h"
 #include "ws281x_constants.h"
 #include "periph_cpu.h"
-#include "xtimer.h"
+
 /*
  * Data encoding according to the datasheets of the WS2812 and the SK6812:
  * - Encoding of zero bit:
diff --git a/drivers/ws281x/esp32.c b/drivers/ws281x/esp32.c
index 990de387f9..0237c97ba1 100644
--- a/drivers/ws281x/esp32.c
+++ b/drivers/ws281x/esp32.c
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@
 #include "ws281x_params.h"
 #include "ws281x_constants.h"
 #include "periph_cpu.h"
-#include "xtimer.h"
 #include "xtensa/core-macros.h"
 #include "soc/rtc.h"