diff --git a/cpu/cortexm_common/Makefile.dep b/cpu/cortexm_common/Makefile.dep
index d2b74c516f..1718d328f8 100644
--- a/cpu/cortexm_common/Makefile.dep
+++ b/cpu/cortexm_common/Makefile.dep
@@ -4,7 +4,12 @@ USEMODULE += cortexm_common
 # include common periph code
 USEMODULE += cortexm_common_periph
 
-ifneq (,$(filter picolibc,$(FEATURES_USED)))
+# Ensure newlib is not added if picolibc is already in FEATURES_USED or USEMODULE.
+# nucleo-l011k4 doesn't use features to forces picolibc but directly set it in
+# USEMODULE. This is because during the first pass of the dependency resolution,
+# with the feature mechanism, the picolib feature is not present in FEATURES_USED
+# at this staged and as a result newlib modules are wrongly added.
+ifneq (,$(filter picolibc,$(FEATURES_USED) $(USEMODULE)))
   # Use Picolibc when explicitly selected
   USEMODULE += picolibc
 else