diff --git a/Makefile.dep b/Makefile.dep
index dde5823a2e..50cff55a02 100644
--- a/Makefile.dep
+++ b/Makefile.dep
@@ -468,6 +468,9 @@ endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter stdio_uart,$(USEMODULE)))
   FEATURES_REQUIRED += periph_uart
+
+  # stdio_rtt cannot be used when stdio_uart is loaded
+  DISABLE_MODULE += stdio_rtt
 endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter isrpipe,$(USEMODULE)))
diff --git a/boards/hamilton/Makefile.dep b/boards/hamilton/Makefile.dep
index ad80fdaf73..6cd0a4e555 100644
--- a/boards/hamilton/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/hamilton/Makefile.dep
@@ -12,3 +12,6 @@ ifneq (,$(filter saul_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   # ToDo: peripherals to be added in the future
   #USEMODULE += apds9007
 endif
+
+# Use Segger's RTT by default for stdio on this board
+DEFAULT_MODULE += stdio_rtt
diff --git a/boards/hamilton/Makefile.include b/boards/hamilton/Makefile.include
index 5e5da486c9..b946467ae6 100644
--- a/boards/hamilton/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/hamilton/Makefile.include
@@ -3,10 +3,8 @@ export JLINK_DEVICE := atsamr21e18a
 OBJDUMPFLAGS += --disassemble --source --disassembler-options=force-thumb
 OFLAGS := --gap-fill 0xff
 
-# Configure terminal, hamilton doesn't provide any UART, thus use RTT
-TERMPROG = $(RIOTTOOLS)/jlink/jlink.sh
-TERMFLAGS = term-rtt
-
-USEMODULE += stdio_rtt
+# use JLink Segger RTT by default
+RIOT_TERMINAL ?= jlink
+include $(RIOTMAKE)/tools/serial.inc.mk
 
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/tools/jlink.inc.mk
diff --git a/boards/ruuvitag/Makefile.dep b/boards/ruuvitag/Makefile.dep
index 6cc6655ce2..5a8a397363 100644
--- a/boards/ruuvitag/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/ruuvitag/Makefile.dep
@@ -4,4 +4,7 @@ ifneq (,$(filter saul_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += lis2dh12_spi
 endif
 
+# Use Segger's RTT by default for stdio on this board
+DEFAULT_MODULE += stdio_rtt
+
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/nrf52/Makefile.dep
diff --git a/boards/ruuvitag/Makefile.include b/boards/ruuvitag/Makefile.include
index eff65c33fe..048ba8f4f6 100644
--- a/boards/ruuvitag/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/ruuvitag/Makefile.include
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
-# for this board, we are using Segger's RTT as default terminal interface
-USEMODULE += stdio_rtt
-TERMPROG = $(RIOTTOOLS)/jlink/jlink.sh
-TERMFLAGS = term-rtt
+# HACK: replicate dependency resolution in Makefile.dep, only works
+# if `USEMODULE` or `DEFAULT_MODULE` is set by the command line or in the
+# application Makefile.
+ifeq (,$(filter stdio_%,$(DISABLE_MODULE) $(USEMODULE)))
+  RIOT_TERMINAL ?= jlink
+endif
+
+include $(RIOTMAKE)/tools/serial.inc.mk
 
 # use shared Makefile.include
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/nrf52xxxdk/Makefile.include
diff --git a/boards/thingy52/Makefile.dep b/boards/thingy52/Makefile.dep
index 546af9f8f8..529678057b 100644
--- a/boards/thingy52/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/thingy52/Makefile.dep
@@ -4,4 +4,7 @@ ifneq (,$(filter saul_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += lps22hb
 endif
 
+# Use Segger's RTT by default for stdio on this board
+DEFAULT_MODULE += stdio_rtt
+
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/nrf52/Makefile.dep
diff --git a/boards/thingy52/Makefile.include b/boards/thingy52/Makefile.include
index 8d7bb8eeeb..c73c953414 100644
--- a/boards/thingy52/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/thingy52/Makefile.include
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
-# for this board, we are using Segger's RTT as default terminal interface
-USEMODULE += stdio_rtt
-TERMPROG = $(RIOTTOOLS)/jlink/jlink.sh
-TERMFLAGS = term-rtt
+# HACK: replicate dependency resolution in Makefile.dep, only works
+# if `USEMODULE` or `DEFAULT_MODULE` is set by the command line or in the
+# application Makefile.
+ifeq (,$(filter stdio_%,$(DISABLE_MODULE) $(USEMODULE)))
+  RIOT_TERMINAL ?= jlink
+endif
+
+include $(RIOTMAKE)/tools/serial.inc.mk
 
 # use shared Makefile.include
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/nrf52/Makefile.include
diff --git a/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile b/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile
index 30fdec09ef..b8f129551a 100644
--- a/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile
+++ b/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile
@@ -7,9 +7,6 @@ BOARD ?= samr21-xpro
 # This has to be the absolute path to the RIOT base directory:
 RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
 
-# The following boards do not have an available UART
-BOARD_BLACKLIST += pic32-wifire pic32-clicker ruuvitag thingy52
-
 # use ethos (ethernet over serial) for network communication and stdio over
 # UART, but not on native, as native has a tap interface towards the host.
 ifeq (,$(filter native,$(BOARD)))
diff --git a/examples/suit_update/Makefile.ci b/examples/suit_update/Makefile.ci
index 977248ea1e..40076ce49e 100644
--- a/examples/suit_update/Makefile.ci
+++ b/examples/suit_update/Makefile.ci
@@ -18,12 +18,10 @@ BOARD_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY := \
     nucleo-l031k6 \
     nucleo-l053r8 \
     nucleo-l073rz \
-    ruuvitag \
     saml10-xpro \
     saml11-xpro \
     stm32f0discovery \
     telosb \
-    thingy52 \
     waspmote-pro \
     wsn430-v1_3b \
     wsn430-v1_4 \
diff --git a/makefiles/tools/serial.inc.mk b/makefiles/tools/serial.inc.mk
index 570fe1c2b5..6653c5e13d 100644
--- a/makefiles/tools/serial.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/tools/serial.inc.mk
@@ -26,4 +26,7 @@ else ifeq ($(RIOT_TERMINAL),miniterm)
   # The RIOT shell will still transmit back a CRLF, but at least with --eol LF
   # we avoid sending two lines on every "enter".
   TERMFLAGS ?= --eol LF "$(PORT)" "$(BAUD)"
+else ifeq ($(RIOT_TERMINAL),jlink)
+  TERMPROG = $(RIOTTOOLS)/jlink/jlink.sh
+  TERMFLAGS = term-rtt
 endif
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile
index 778d361c70..188911d7a6 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile
@@ -2,9 +2,6 @@ DEVELHELP := 1
 # name of your application
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
-# chronos, hamilton and ruuvitag boards don't support ethos
-BOARD_BLACKLIST := chronos hamilton ruuvitag
-
 export TAP ?= tap0
 
 # use Ethernet as link-layer protocol
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext_frag/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext_frag/Makefile
index d3e2748da0..eaac0d07b8 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext_frag/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext_frag/Makefile
@@ -2,9 +2,6 @@ DEVELHELP := 1
 # name of your application
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
-# chronos, hamilton, ruuvitag, and thingy52 boards don't support ethos
-BOARD_BLACKLIST := chronos hamilton ruuvitag thingy52
-
 export TAP ?= tap0
 
 CFLAGS += -DOUTPUT=TEXT
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_rpl_srh/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_rpl_srh/Makefile
index 344c66dc78..05100fdc92 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_rpl_srh/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_rpl_srh/Makefile
@@ -2,9 +2,6 @@ DEVELHELP := 1
 # name of your application
 include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
-# chronos, hamilton and ruuvitag boards don't support ethos
-BOARD_BLACKLIST := chronos hamilton ruuvitag
-
 export TAP ?= tap0
 
 CFLAGS += -DOUTPUT=TEXT
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_sock_dns/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_sock_dns/Makefile
index 33a6424400..ea4515e19d 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_sock_dns/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_sock_dns/Makefile
@@ -2,9 +2,6 @@ include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
 
-# chronos, hamilton and ruuvitag boards don't support ethos
-BOARD_BLACKLIST := chronos hamilton ruuvitag
-
 export TAP ?= tap0
 
 USEMODULE += sock_dns
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_tcp/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_tcp/Makefile
index 4c89226c4a..09320692b5 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_tcp/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_tcp/Makefile
@@ -8,9 +8,6 @@ TAP ?= tap0
 MSL_US ?= 1000000
 TIMEOUT_US ?= 3000000
 
-# unsupported by ethos: chronos, hamilton, ruuvitag
-BOARD_BLACKLIST := chronos hamilton ruuvitag thingy52
-
 # This test depends on tap device setup (only allowed by root)
 # Suppress test execution to avoid CI errors
 TEST_ON_CI_BLACKLIST += all