diff --git a/sys/Makefile.dep b/sys/Makefile.dep
index c42d9da876..55a81b1a7e 100644
--- a/sys/Makefile.dep
+++ b/sys/Makefile.dep
@@ -167,6 +167,9 @@ ifneq (,$(filter trickle,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += random
   ifeq (,$(filter ztimer_msec,$(USEMODULE)))
     USEMODULE += xtimer
+    ifneq (,$(filter ztimer_xtimer_compat,$(USEMODULE)))
+      USEMODULE += ztimer_msec
+    endif
   endif
 endif