diff --git a/makefiles/arch/cortexm.inc.mk b/makefiles/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
index dc1794822a..da254390f4 100644
--- a/makefiles/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
@@ -144,8 +144,6 @@ include $(RIOTCPU)/cortexm_common/Makefile.include
 
 # use the nano-specs of Newlib when available
 USEMODULE += newlib_nano
-export USE_NANO_SPECS = 1
-
 # Avoid overriding the default rule:
 all:
 
diff --git a/sys/Makefile.include b/sys/Makefile.include
index a9ab8095ef..bdc8147ff8 100644
--- a/sys/Makefile.include
+++ b/sys/Makefile.include
@@ -72,13 +72,13 @@ ifneq (,$(filter arduino,$(USEMODULE)))
 endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter printf_float,$(USEMODULE)))
-  ifeq (1,$(USE_NANO_SPECS))
+  ifneq (,$(filter newlib_nano,$(USEMODULE)))
     export LINKFLAGS += -u _printf_float
   endif
 endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter scanf_float,$(USEMODULE)))
-  ifeq (1,$(USE_NANO_SPECS))
+  ifneq (,$(filter newlib_nano,$(USEMODULE)))
     export LINKFLAGS += -u _scanf_float
   endif
 endif