diff --git a/dist/tools/cppcheck/README.md b/dist/tools/cppcheck/README.md
index 92a32b68b4..732cde1b33 100644
--- a/dist/tools/cppcheck/README.md
+++ b/dist/tools/cppcheck/README.md
@@ -15,12 +15,19 @@ Check all files changed in the current branch against the branch named
 
 Check all files but ignore warnings about unused struct members:
 
-    ./dist/tools/cppcheck/check.sh --suppress=unusedStructMember
+    ./dist/tools/cppcheck/check.sh --suppress=unassignedVariable
 
 Check all files changed in the current branch against the branch named
-'master', ignoring warnings about unused struct members:
+'master', ignoring warnings about unassigned variables:
 
-    ./dist/tools/cppcheck/check.sh master --suppress=unusedStructMember --suppress=unassignedVariable
+    ./dist/tools/cppcheck/check.sh master  --suppress=unassignedVariable
+
+# Default options
+
+This script suppresses warnings of the type "unusedStructMember" by default. If
+you want to get warnings about "unusedStructMembers" run the script with the
+--show-unused-struct option:
+    ./dist/tools/cppcheck/check.sh  --show-unused-struct [BRANCH] [options to be passed]
 
 # What to do about the findings
 
diff --git a/dist/tools/cppcheck/check.sh b/dist/tools/cppcheck/check.sh
index 065552a3d6..d8de0c5f9f 100755
--- a/dist/tools/cppcheck/check.sh
+++ b/dist/tools/cppcheck/check.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
-CHECKROOT=$(dirname "${0}")
+# Don't show warnings about unusedStructMembers by default
+DEFAULT_SUPPRESSIONS="${1}"
+if echo "${DEFAULT_SUPPRESSIONS}" | grep -q '^--show-unused-struct'; then
+    DEFAULT_SUPPRESSIONS=""
+    shift 1
+else
+    DEFAULT_SUPPRESSIONS=--suppress="unusedStructMember"
+fi
+
 BRANCH=${1}
 FILEREGEX='\.([sScHh]|cpp)$'
 
@@ -33,6 +41,5 @@ if [ -z "${FILES}" ]; then
 fi
 
 cppcheck --std=c99 --enable=style --force --error-exitcode=2 --quiet -j 8 \
-    --inline-suppr --suppressions ${CHECKROOT}/vendor_suppressions.txt \
-    --template "{file}:{line}: {severity} ({id}): {message}" \
-    ${@} ${FILES}
+         --template "{file}:{line}: {severity} ({id}): {message}"         \
+         --inline-suppr ${DEFAULT_SUPPRESSIONS} ${@} ${FILES}
diff --git a/dist/tools/cppcheck/vendor_suppressions.txt b/dist/tools/cppcheck/vendor_suppressions.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index eb0ed89675..0000000000
--- a/dist/tools/cppcheck/vendor_suppressions.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-unusedStructMember:boards/chronos/drivers/include/display.h
-unusedStructMember:boards/x86-multiboot-common/include/multiboot.h
-unusedStructMember:cpu/atmega_common/avr-libc-extra/time.h
-unusedStructMember:cpu/cc2538/include/cc2538-gpio.h
-unusedStructMember:cpu/cc2538/include/cc2538-uart.h
-unusedStructMember:cpu/cc2538/include/gptimer.h
-unusedStructMember:cpu/cc2538/include/rfcore.h
-unusedStructMember:cpu/cc2538/include/soc-adc.h
-unusedStructMember:cpu/cortex-m0_common/include/core_*.h
-unusedStructMember:cpu/cortex-m3_common/include/core_*.h
-unusedStructMember:cpu/cortex-m4_common/include/core_*.h
-unusedStructMember:cpu/lpc1768/include/LPC17xx.h
-unusedStructMember:cpu/lpc1768/include/core_cm3.h
-unusedStructMember:cpu/sam3x8e/include/sam3x8e.h
-unusedStructMember:cpu/samd21/include/component/component_*.h
-unusedStructMember:cpu/samd21/include/samd21.h
-unusedStructMember:cpu/stm32f0/include/stm32f051x8.h
-unusedStructMember:cpu/stm32f1/include/stm32f10x.h
-unusedStructMember:cpu/stm32f3/include/stm32f303xc.h
-unusedStructMember:cpu/stm32f4/include/stm32f407xx.h
-unusedStructMember:cpu/stm32f4/include/stm32f415xx.h
-unusedStructMember:tests/unittests/embunit/embUnit/RepeatedTest.h
-unusedStructMember:tests/unittests/embunit/embUnit/Test*.h