diff --git a/Makefile.dep b/Makefile.dep
index d636d64468..912a209eaf 100644
--- a/Makefile.dep
+++ b/Makefile.dep
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@
 -include $(APPDIR)/Makefile.board.dep
 -include $(APPDIR)/Makefile.$(TOOLCHAIN).dep
 
+# select default stdio provider if no other is selected
+ifeq (,$(filter stdio_% slipdev_stdio,$(USEMODULE)))
+  USEMODULE += stdio_default
+endif
+
 # include board dependencies
 -include $(BOARDDIR)/Makefile.dep
 
diff --git a/boards/common/esp32s3/stdio_esp32s3_default.dep.mk b/boards/common/esp32s3/stdio_esp32s3_default.dep.mk
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0fad20764b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/boards/common/esp32s3/stdio_esp32s3_default.dep.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+ifneq (,$(filter stdio_default,$(USEMODULE)))
+  ifneq (,$(filter usbus,$(USEMODULE)))
+    USEMODULE += stdio_cdc_acm
+    FEATURES_REQUIRED += highlevel_stdio
+  else ifneq (,$(filter tinyusb_device,$(USEMODULE)))
+    USEMODULE += stdio_tinyusb_cdc_acm
+    FEATURES_REQUIRED += highlevel_stdio
+  else
+    # Use stdio_usb_serial_jtag if no other stdio is requested explicitly
+    # and neither USBUS nor tinyusb_device are used
+    USEMODULE += stdio_usb_serial_jtag
+  endif
+  # Even if only stdio_usb_serial_jtag is enabled, usb_board_reset is enabled
+  # since there should be a CDC ACM interface in any case. This is necessary,
+  # for example, to reset the board if stdio_cdc_acm or stdio_tinyusb_cdc_acm
+  # was previously used.
+  USEMODULE += usb_board_reset
+  include $(RIOTMAKE)/tools/usb_board_reset.mk
+endif
diff --git a/boards/common/makefiles/stdio_cdc_acm.dep.mk b/boards/common/makefiles/stdio_cdc_acm.dep.mk
index 1bbdcdf911..4800823512 100644
--- a/boards/common/makefiles/stdio_cdc_acm.dep.mk
+++ b/boards/common/makefiles/stdio_cdc_acm.dep.mk
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-ifeq (,$(filter-out stdio_cdc_acm,$(filter stdio_% slipdev_stdio,$(USEMODULE))))
+ifneq (,$(filter stdio_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   ifneq (,$(filter tinyusb_device,$(USEMODULE))$(filter tinyusb,$(USEPKG)))
     # Use stdio_tinyusb_cdc_acm only if no other stdio is requested explicitly
     # and tinyusb_device is used for any other reason
diff --git a/boards/common/makefiles/stdio_tinyusb_cdc_acm.dep.mk b/boards/common/makefiles/stdio_tinyusb_cdc_acm.dep.mk
index 8aae180b72..1254cd5955 100644
--- a/boards/common/makefiles/stdio_tinyusb_cdc_acm.dep.mk
+++ b/boards/common/makefiles/stdio_tinyusb_cdc_acm.dep.mk
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-ifeq (,$(filter stdio_% slipdev_stdio,$(USEMODULE)))
+ifneq (,$(filter stdio_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   # Use stdio_tinyusb_cdc_acm only if no other stdio is requested explicitly.
   # and usbus is used for any other reason
   ifneq (,$(filter usbus,$(USEMODULE)))
diff --git a/boards/esp32c3-wemos-mini/Makefile.dep b/boards/esp32c3-wemos-mini/Makefile.dep
index 2b25c2a442..b2909c3d65 100644
--- a/boards/esp32c3-wemos-mini/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/esp32c3-wemos-mini/Makefile.dep
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-ifeq (,$(filter stdio_% slipdev_stdio,$(USEMODULE)))
+ifneq (,$(filter stdio_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += stdio_usb_serial_jtag
 endif
 
diff --git a/boards/esp32s3-box/Makefile.dep b/boards/esp32s3-box/Makefile.dep
index 1c09d058f4..3e5cbc162a 100644
--- a/boards/esp32s3-box/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/esp32s3-box/Makefile.dep
@@ -1,15 +1,3 @@
-ifeq (,$(filter stdio_% slipdev_stdio usbus usbus% tinyusb_device,$(USEMODULE)))
-  # Use stdio_usb_serial_jtag if no other stdio is requested explicitly
-  # and neither USBUS nor tinyusb_device are used
-  USEMODULE += stdio_usb_serial_jtag
-  # Even if only stdio_usb_serial_jtag is enabled, usb_board_reset is enabled
-  # since there should be a CDC ACM interface in any case. This is necessary,
-  # for example, to reset the board if stdio_cdc_acm or stdio_tinyusb_cdc_acm
-  # was previously used.
-  USEMODULE += usb_board_reset
-  # include $(RIOTMAKE)/tools/usb_board_reset.mk
-endif
-
 ifneq (,$(filter disp_dev,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += ili9341
 endif
@@ -18,5 +6,5 @@ ifneq (,$(filter saul_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += saul_gpio
 endif
 
+include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/esp32s3/stdio_esp32s3_default.dep.mk
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/esp32s3/Makefile.dep
-include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/makefiles/stdio_cdc_acm.dep.mk
diff --git a/boards/esp32s3-pros3/Makefile.dep b/boards/esp32s3-pros3/Makefile.dep
index 4159038b8d..14a46b0147 100644
--- a/boards/esp32s3-pros3/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/esp32s3-pros3/Makefile.dep
@@ -1,18 +1,6 @@
-ifeq (,$(filter stdio_% slipdev_stdio usbus usbus% tinyusb_device,$(USEMODULE)))
-  # Use stdio_usb_serial_jtag if no other stdio is requested explicitly
-  # and neither USBUS nor tinyusb_device are used
-  USEMODULE += stdio_usb_serial_jtag
-  # Even if only stdio_usb_serial_jtag is enabled, usb_board_reset is enabled
-  # since there should be a CDC ACM interface in any case. This is necessary,
-  # for example, to reset the board if stdio_cdc_acm or stdio_tinyusb_cdc_acm
-  # was previously used.
-  USEMODULE += usb_board_reset
-  include $(RIOTMAKE)/tools/usb_board_reset.mk
-endif
-
 ifneq (,$(filter saul_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += saul_gpio
 endif
 
+include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/esp32s3/stdio_esp32s3_default.dep.mk
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/esp32s3/Makefile.dep
-include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/makefiles/stdio_cdc_acm.dep.mk
diff --git a/boards/esp32s3-usb-otg/Makefile.dep b/boards/esp32s3-usb-otg/Makefile.dep
index 88ec8eaa8b..c8b90d8ebb 100644
--- a/boards/esp32s3-usb-otg/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/esp32s3-usb-otg/Makefile.dep
@@ -1,17 +1,5 @@
-ifeq (,$(filter stdio_% slipdev_stdio usbus usbus% tinyusb_device,$(USEMODULE)))
-  # Use stdio_usb_serial_jtag if no other stdio is requested explicitly
-  # and neither USBUS nor tinyusb_device are used
-  USEMODULE += stdio_usb_serial_jtag
-  # Even if only stdio_usb_serial_jtag is enabled, usb_board_reset is enabled
-  # since there should be a CDC ACM interface in any case. This is necessary,
-  # for example, to reset the board if stdio_cdc_acm or stdio_tinyusb_cdc_acm
-  # was previously used.
-  USEMODULE += usb_board_reset
-  include $(RIOTMAKE)/tools/usb_board_reset.mk
-endif
-
+include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/esp32s3/stdio_esp32s3_default.dep.mk
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/esp32s3/Makefile.dep
-include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/makefiles/stdio_cdc_acm.dep.mk
 
 # default to using fatfs on SD card
 ifneq (,$(filter vfs_default,$(USEMODULE)))
diff --git a/boards/esp32s3-wt32-sc01-plus/Makefile.dep b/boards/esp32s3-wt32-sc01-plus/Makefile.dep
index 0128b651b3..127742cdb0 100644
--- a/boards/esp32s3-wt32-sc01-plus/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/esp32s3-wt32-sc01-plus/Makefile.dep
@@ -1,17 +1,5 @@
-ifeq (,$(filter stdio_% slipdev_stdio usbus usbus% tinyusb_device,$(USEMODULE)))
-  # Use stdio_usb_serial_jtag if no other stdio is requested explicitly
-  # and neither USBUS nor tinyusb_device are used
-  USEMODULE += stdio_usb_serial_jtag
-  # Even if only stdio_usb_serial_jtag is enabled, usb_board_reset is enabled
-  # since there should be a CDC ACM interface in any case. This is necessary,
-  # for example, to reset the board if stdio_cdc_acm or stdio_tinyusb_cdc_acm
-  # was previously used.
-  USEMODULE += usb_board_reset
-  # include $(RIOTMAKE)/tools/usb_board_reset.mk
-endif
-
+include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/esp32s3/stdio_esp32s3_default.dep.mk
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/esp32s3/Makefile.dep
-include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/makefiles/stdio_cdc_acm.dep.mk
 
 # default to using fatfs on SD card
 ifneq (,$(filter vfs_default,$(USEMODULE)))
diff --git a/boards/hamilton/Makefile.dep b/boards/hamilton/Makefile.dep
index 0c3f1f2795..6f96388ab7 100644
--- a/boards/hamilton/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/hamilton/Makefile.dep
@@ -14,6 +14,6 @@ ifneq (,$(filter saul_default,$(USEMODULE)))
 endif
 
 # Use Segger's RTT unless another stdio_% is already used
-ifeq (,$(filter stdio_% slipdev_stdio,$(USEMODULE)))
+ifneq (,$(filter stdio_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += stdio_rtt
 endif
diff --git a/boards/hip-badge/Makefile.dep b/boards/hip-badge/Makefile.dep
index 840d0a4ca8..94128b55a2 100644
--- a/boards/hip-badge/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/hip-badge/Makefile.dep
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-ifeq (,$(filter stdio_% slipdev_stdio,$(USEMODULE)))
+ifneq (,$(filter stdio_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += stdio_usb_serial_jtag
 endif
 
diff --git a/boards/pinetime/Makefile.dep b/boards/pinetime/Makefile.dep
index 331a4cf3e7..b80599f39b 100644
--- a/boards/pinetime/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/pinetime/Makefile.dep
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Use Segger's RTT unless another stdio_% is already used
-ifeq (,$(filter stdio_% slipdev_stdio,$(USEMODULE)))
+ifneq (,$(filter stdio_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += stdio_rtt
 endif
 
diff --git a/boards/ruuvitag/Makefile.dep b/boards/ruuvitag/Makefile.dep
index 1944a9ab7a..a06987f43c 100644
--- a/boards/ruuvitag/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/ruuvitag/Makefile.dep
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ ifneq (,$(filter saul_default,$(USEMODULE)))
 endif
 
 # Use Segger's RTT unless another stdio_% is already used
-ifeq (,$(filter stdio_% slipdev_stdio,$(USEMODULE)))
+ifneq (,$(filter stdio_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += stdio_rtt
 endif
 
diff --git a/boards/thingy52/Makefile.dep b/boards/thingy52/Makefile.dep
index a47e07b05e..e997e6e43c 100644
--- a/boards/thingy52/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/thingy52/Makefile.dep
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ ifneq (,$(filter saul_default,$(USEMODULE)))
 endif
 
 # Use Segger's RTT unless another stdio_% is already used
-ifeq (,$(filter stdio_% slipdev_stdio,$(USEMODULE)))
+ifneq (,$(filter stdio_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += stdio_rtt
 endif
 
diff --git a/cpu/arm7tdmi_gba/Makefile b/cpu/arm7tdmi_gba/Makefile
index 47f9d0499b..b528759960 100644
--- a/cpu/arm7tdmi_gba/Makefile
+++ b/cpu/arm7tdmi_gba/Makefile
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ include $(RIOTCPU)/$(CPU)/Makefile.include
 
 DIRS = $(RIOTCPU)/arm7_common
 
-ifneq (,$(filter stdio_%,$(USEMODULE)))
+ifneq (,$(filter stdio_fb,$(USEMODULE)))
   DIRS += stdio_fb
 endif
 
diff --git a/cpu/arm7tdmi_gba/Makefile.dep b/cpu/arm7tdmi_gba/Makefile.dep
index 51481f9a83..f6fa0acdf7 100644
--- a/cpu/arm7tdmi_gba/Makefile.dep
+++ b/cpu/arm7tdmi_gba/Makefile.dep
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 USEMODULE += arm7_common
 
-ifeq (,$(filter stdio_%,$(USEMODULE)))
+ifneq (,$(filter stdio_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += stdio_fb
 endif
 
diff --git a/cpu/native/Makefile.dep b/cpu/native/Makefile.dep
index a41f94b2d5..cd33b6ea55 100644
--- a/cpu/native/Makefile.dep
+++ b/cpu/native/Makefile.dep
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ else
   endif
 endif
 
-ifeq (,$(filter stdio_%,$(USEMODULE)))
+ifneq (,$(filter stdio_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += stdio_native
 endif
 
diff --git a/examples/networking/misc/telnet_server/Makefile b/examples/networking/misc/telnet_server/Makefile
index 24cae7524c..e4d53c3cfb 100644
--- a/examples/networking/misc/telnet_server/Makefile
+++ b/examples/networking/misc/telnet_server/Makefile
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ USEMODULE += ps
 # Include the telnet server
 USEMODULE += stdio_telnet
 
+# select a 2nd stdio method
+USEMODULE += stdio_default
+
 # Enable faster re-connects
 CFLAGS += -DCONFIG_GNRC_TCP_EXPERIMENTAL_DYN_MSL_EN=1
 
diff --git a/examples/networking/misc/telnet_server/main.c b/examples/networking/misc/telnet_server/main.c
index aed0a26fb3..9e36799b9b 100644
--- a/examples/networking/misc/telnet_server/main.c
+++ b/examples/networking/misc/telnet_server/main.c
@@ -79,7 +79,6 @@ int main(void)
 
     /* start shell */
     printf("All up, awaiting connection on port %u\n", CONFIG_TELNET_PORT);
-    puts("Local shell disabled");
     char line_buf[SHELL_DEFAULT_BUFSIZE];
     shell_run(NULL, line_buf, SHELL_DEFAULT_BUFSIZE);
 
diff --git a/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk b/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk
index 2cebdfe864..9505365486 100644
--- a/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk
@@ -488,6 +488,13 @@ PSEUDOMODULES += soft_uart_modecfg
 PSEUDOMODULES += stdin
 PSEUDOMODULES += stdio_available
 PSEUDOMODULES += stdio_cdc_acm
+## @defgroup sys_stdio_default	Default STDIO provider
+## @ingroup sys_stdio
+## @{
+## This module selects the default STDIO method of a given board.
+## It will be enabled by default if no other stdio method is selected.
+PSEUDOMODULES += stdio_default
+## @}
 PSEUDOMODULES += stdio_dispatch
 PSEUDOMODULES += stdio_ethos
 PSEUDOMODULES += stdio_nimble_debug
diff --git a/makefiles/stdio.inc.mk b/makefiles/stdio.inc.mk
index 9c29cf5037..df0221ddd0 100644
--- a/makefiles/stdio.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/stdio.inc.mk
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ ifneq (,$(filter stdin,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += isrpipe
 endif
 
-ifneq (1, $(words $(filter $(STDIO_MODULES),$(USEMODULE))))
+ifneq (1, $(words $(sort $(filter $(STDIO_MODULES),$(USEMODULE)))))
   USEMODULE += stdio_dispatch
 endif