diff --git a/boards/telosb/Makefile.dep b/boards/telosb/Makefile.dep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9c00f92efc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/boards/telosb/Makefile.dep
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_netdev_default netdev_default,$(USEMODULE)))
+  USEMODULE += cc2420
+endif
diff --git a/boards/telosb/Makefile.features b/boards/telosb/Makefile.features
index be3115c5de..57c25ac5c4 100644
--- a/boards/telosb/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/telosb/Makefile.features
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Put defined MCU peripherals here (in alphabetical order)
 FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_gpio
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_spi
 FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_timer
 FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_uart
 
diff --git a/boards/telosb/Makefile.include b/boards/telosb/Makefile.include
index c84cacd0bd..71e7292ed9 100644
--- a/boards/telosb/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/telosb/Makefile.include
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ PORT_DARWIN ?= $(firstword $(sort $(wildcard /dev/tty.usbserial-MXV*)))
 export BAUD ?= 9600
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/Makefile.include.serial
 
+# setup the boards dependencies
+include $(RIOTBOARD)/$(BOARD)/Makefile.dep
+
 # flash tool configuration
 export OFLAGS = -O ihex
 export FLASHER = $(RIOTBASE)/dist/tools/goodfet/goodfet.bsl