diff --git a/tests/periph_timer_periodic/main.c b/tests/periph_timer_periodic/main.c
index cab5fba69a..09fc0c2580 100644
--- a/tests/periph_timer_periodic/main.c
+++ b/tests/periph_timer_periodic/main.c
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
  * provides a configuration for it.
  */
 #define TIMER_CYCL  XTIMER_DEV
-#define CYCLE_MS    100UL
+#define CYCLE_MS    25UL
 #define CYCLES_MAX   10
 
 static unsigned count[TIMER_CHANNEL_NUMOF];
diff --git a/tests/periph_timer_periodic/tests/01-run.py b/tests/periph_timer_periodic/tests/01-run.py
index 6bc3edba51..2c370845d8 100755
--- a/tests/periph_timer_periodic/tests/01-run.py
+++ b/tests/periph_timer_periodic/tests/01-run.py
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ def testfunc(child):
     start = time.time()
     child.expect_exact('TEST SUCCEEDED')
     end = time.time()
-    # test should run 10 cycles with 100ms each
-    assert (end - start) > 1
-    assert (end - start) < 1.5
+    # test should run 10 cycles with 25ms each
+    assert (end - start) > 0.25
+    assert (end - start) < 0.35
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":