diff --git a/Makefile.dep b/Makefile.dep
index 943ca9f5d9..0c54aeb7fc 100644
--- a/Makefile.dep
+++ b/Makefile.dep
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 OLD_USEMODULE := $(sort $(USEMODULE))
 OLD_USEPKG := $(sort $(USEPKG))
 
+# include board specific application dependencies
+-include $(APPDIR)/Makefile.board.dep
+
 # include board dependencies
 -include $(RIOTBOARD)/$(BOARD)/Makefile.dep
 
diff --git a/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile b/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile
index 28b1f0fa94..30fdec09ef 100644
--- a/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile
+++ b/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile
@@ -13,17 +13,13 @@ BOARD_BLACKLIST += pic32-wifire pic32-clicker ruuvitag thingy52
 # use ethos (ethernet over serial) for network communication and stdio over
 # UART, but not on native, as native has a tap interface towards the host.
 ifeq (,$(filter native,$(BOARD)))
-  GNRC_NETIF_NUMOF := 2
-  USEMODULE += stdio_ethos
-
   # ethos baudrate can be configured from make command
   ETHOS_BAUDRATE ?= 115200
   CFLAGS += -DETHOS_BAUDRATE=$(ETHOS_BAUDRATE)
 else
-  GNRC_NETIF_NUMOF := 2
   TERMFLAGS += -z [::1]:17754
-  USEMODULE += socket_zep
 endif
+GNRC_NETIF_NUMOF := 2
 
 # SLIP legacy compatibility
 # Uncomment the lines below if you want to use SLIP with this example and don't
diff --git a/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile.board.dep b/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile.board.dep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..56cdaf5ed9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile.board.dep
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Put board specific dependencies here
+ifeq (,$(filter native,$(BOARD)))
+  USEMODULE += stdio_ethos
+else
+  USEMODULE += socket_zep
+endif
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile
index 79bc3382a1..886149f903 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile
@@ -9,12 +9,8 @@ export TAP ?= tap0
 
 # use Ethernet as link-layer protocol
 ifeq (native,$(BOARD))
-  USEMODULE += netdev_tap
-
   TERMFLAGS ?= $(TAP)
 else
-  USEMODULE += stdio_ethos
-
   ETHOS_BAUDRATE ?= 115200
   CFLAGS += -DETHOS_BAUDRATE=$(ETHOS_BAUDRATE)
   TERMDEPS += ethos
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile.board.dep b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile.board.dep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b595b8605c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile.board.dep
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Put board specific dependencies here
+ifeq (native,$(BOARD))
+  USEMODULE += netdev_tap
+else
+  USEMODULE += stdio_ethos
+endif
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext_frag/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext_frag/Makefile
index 19fe733bde..946749d325 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext_frag/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext_frag/Makefile
@@ -12,11 +12,8 @@ CFLAGS += -DTEST_SUITES="gnrc_ipv6_ext_frag"
 CFLAGS += -DGNRC_IPV6_EXT_FRAG_LIMITS_POOL_SIZE=3
 
 ifeq (native,$(BOARD))
-  USEMODULE += netdev_tap
   TERMFLAGS ?= $(TAP)
 else
-  USEMODULE += stdio_ethos
-
   ETHOS_BAUDRATE ?= 115200
   CFLAGS += -DETHOS_BAUDRATE=$(ETHOS_BAUDRATE)
   TERMDEPS += ethos
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext_frag/Makefile.board.dep b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext_frag/Makefile.board.dep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b595b8605c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext_frag/Makefile.board.dep
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Put board specific dependencies here
+ifeq (native,$(BOARD))
+  USEMODULE += netdev_tap
+else
+  USEMODULE += stdio_ethos
+endif
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_rpl_srh/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_rpl_srh/Makefile
index 4be5e28b19..02a7700277 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_rpl_srh/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_rpl_srh/Makefile
@@ -11,12 +11,8 @@ CFLAGS += -DOUTPUT=TEXT
 
 # use Ethernet as link-layer protocol
 ifeq (native,$(BOARD))
-  USEMODULE += netdev_tap
-
   TERMFLAGS ?= $(TAP)
 else
-  USEMODULE += stdio_ethos
-
   ETHOS_BAUDRATE ?= 115200
   CFLAGS += -DETHOS_BAUDRATE=$(ETHOS_BAUDRATE)
   TERMDEPS += ethos
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_rpl_srh/Makefile.board.dep b/tests/gnrc_rpl_srh/Makefile.board.dep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b595b8605c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/gnrc_rpl_srh/Makefile.board.dep
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Put board specific dependencies here
+ifeq (native,$(BOARD))
+  USEMODULE += netdev_tap
+else
+  USEMODULE += stdio_ethos
+endif
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_sock_dns/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_sock_dns/Makefile
index ef2d5bf380..5b4de44aa5 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_sock_dns/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_sock_dns/Makefile
@@ -13,12 +13,8 @@ USEMODULE += gnrc_ipv6_default
 USEMODULE += gnrc_ipv6_nib_dns
 # use Ethernet as link-layer protocol
 ifeq (native,$(BOARD))
-  USEMODULE += netdev_tap
-
   TERMFLAGS ?= $(TAP)
 else
-  USEMODULE += stdio_ethos
-
   ETHOS_BAUDRATE ?= 115200
   CFLAGS += -DETHOS_BAUDRATE=$(ETHOS_BAUDRATE)
   TERMDEPS += ethos
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_sock_dns/Makefile.board.dep b/tests/gnrc_sock_dns/Makefile.board.dep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b595b8605c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/gnrc_sock_dns/Makefile.board.dep
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Put board specific dependencies here
+ifeq (native,$(BOARD))
+  USEMODULE += netdev_tap
+else
+  USEMODULE += stdio_ethos
+endif
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_tcp/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_tcp/Makefile
index ea2f5faefd..f4302e148f 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_tcp/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_tcp/Makefile
@@ -20,10 +20,8 @@ CFLAGS += -DGNRC_TCP_MSL=$(MSL_US)
 CFLAGS += -DGNRC_TCP_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT_DURATION=$(TIMEOUT_US)
 
 ifeq (native,$(BOARD))
-  USEMODULE += netdev_tap
   TERMFLAGS ?= $(TAP)
 else
-  USEMODULE += stdio_ethos
   ETHOS_BAUDRATE ?= 115200
   CFLAGS += -DETHOS_BAUDRATE=$(ETHOS_BAUDRATE)
   TERMDEPS += ethos
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_tcp/Makefile.board.dep b/tests/gnrc_tcp/Makefile.board.dep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b595b8605c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/gnrc_tcp/Makefile.board.dep
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Put board specific dependencies here
+ifeq (native,$(BOARD))
+  USEMODULE += netdev_tap
+else
+  USEMODULE += stdio_ethos
+endif