diff --git a/cpu/mips32r2_common/Makefile b/cpu/mips32r2_common/Makefile
index 9524c71294..09b06320e3 100644
--- a/cpu/mips32r2_common/Makefile
+++ b/cpu/mips32r2_common/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
 MODULE = cpu
-DIRS = periph newlib_syscalls_mips_uhi
+
+DIRS = periph
+
+ifneq (,$(filter newlib_syscalls_mips_uhi,$(USEMODULE)))
+  DIRS += newlib_syscalls_mips_uhi
+endif
 
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.base