diff --git a/Makefile.dep b/Makefile.dep
index adabdabd7c..560384edeb 100644
--- a/Makefile.dep
+++ b/Makefile.dep
@@ -877,6 +877,11 @@ USEMODULE += $(filter periph_%,$(FEATURES_USED))
 # select cpu_check_address pseudomodule if the corresponding feature is used
 USEMODULE += $(filter cpu_check_address, $(FEATURES_USED))
 
+# include periph_common if any periph_* driver is used
+ifneq (,$(filter periph_%, $(USEMODULE)))
+  USEMODULE += periph_common
+endif
+
 # recursively catch transitive dependencies
 USEMODULE := $(sort $(USEMODULE))
 USEPKG := $(sort $(USEPKG))
diff --git a/cpu/cc2538/Makefile.include b/cpu/cc2538/Makefile.include
index bc93aaa0eb..7a03b807df 100644
--- a/cpu/cc2538/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/cc2538/Makefile.include
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
 export CPU_ARCH := cortex-m3
 
-# include common SPI functions
-USEMODULE += periph_common
-
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
diff --git a/cpu/cc26x0/Makefile.include b/cpu/cc26x0/Makefile.include
index c4f2039496..7a03b807df 100644
--- a/cpu/cc26x0/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/cc26x0/Makefile.include
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
 export CPU_ARCH := cortex-m3
 
-USEMODULE += periph_common
-
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
diff --git a/cpu/cc430/Makefile.include b/cpu/cc430/Makefile.include
index c63df37c23..49f1ae492c 100644
--- a/cpu/cc430/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/cc430/Makefile.include
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 include $(RIOTCPU)/msp430_common/Makefile.include
 
-export USEMODULE += periph periph_common
+export USEMODULE += periph
diff --git a/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include b/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include
index de69fa6fb7..8bb1451593 100644
--- a/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include
@@ -20,9 +20,6 @@ USEMODULE += cpu_$(EFM32_FAMILY)
 # vectors.o is provided by 'cpu_$(EFM32_FAMILY)' and not by 'cpu'
 VECTORS_O := $(BINDIR)/cpu_$(EFM32_FAMILY)/vectors.o
 
-# include common periph module
-USEMODULE += periph_common
-
 # include layered power management
 USEMODULE += pm_layered
 
diff --git a/cpu/esp32/Makefile.include b/cpu/esp32/Makefile.include
index 2194541f16..68471ab5d9 100644
--- a/cpu/esp32/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/esp32/Makefile.include
@@ -69,7 +69,6 @@ USEMODULE += log
 USEMODULE += newlib_syscalls_default
 USEMODULE += periph
 USEMODULE += periph_adc_ctrl
-USEMODULE += periph_common
 USEMODULE += periph_hwrng
 USEMODULE += periph_flash
 USEMODULE += periph_rtc
diff --git a/cpu/esp8266/Makefile.include b/cpu/esp8266/Makefile.include
index 01d2885d2c..1a57d3f71c 100644
--- a/cpu/esp8266/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/esp8266/Makefile.include
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ PSEUDOMODULES += esp_spiffs
 USEMODULE += esp
 USEMODULE += mtd
 USEMODULE += periph
-USEMODULE += periph_common
 USEMODULE += ps
 USEMODULE += random
 USEMODULE += sdk
diff --git a/cpu/fe310/Makefile.include b/cpu/fe310/Makefile.include
index 9f8e7ad150..564abaa5b3 100644
--- a/cpu/fe310/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/fe310/Makefile.include
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ USEMODULE += newlib_syscalls_fe310
 USEMODULE += sifive_drivers_fe310
 
 USEMODULE += periph
-USEMODULE += periph_common
 USEMODULE += periph_pm
 
 CFLAGS += -Wno-pedantic
diff --git a/cpu/kinetis/Makefile.include b/cpu/kinetis/Makefile.include
index 2fe0fee188..9498ad0864 100644
--- a/cpu/kinetis/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/kinetis/Makefile.include
@@ -36,9 +36,6 @@ LINKFLAGS += $(LINKFLAGPREFIX)--defsym=_ram_length=$(RAM_LEN)
 # add the CPU specific flash configuration field for the linker
 export UNDEF += $(BINDIR)/cpu/fcfield.o
 
-# include common periph drivers
-USEMODULE += periph_common
-
 # select kinetis periph drivers
 ifeq (EA,$(KINETIS_SERIES))
 USEMODULE += periph_ics
diff --git a/cpu/lm4f120/Makefile.include b/cpu/lm4f120/Makefile.include
index fb2d4cecf2..4570e4a1bc 100644
--- a/cpu/lm4f120/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/lm4f120/Makefile.include
@@ -2,7 +2,4 @@ export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m4f
 
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
 
-# use common periph functions
-USEMODULE += periph_common
-
 include $(RIOTCPU)/stellaris_common/Makefile.include
diff --git a/cpu/lpc2387/Makefile.include b/cpu/lpc2387/Makefile.include
index afbb4778a0..fe5a518fa2 100644
--- a/cpu/lpc2387/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/lpc2387/Makefile.include
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 include $(RIOTCPU)/arm7_common/Makefile.include
 
-USEMODULE += arm7_common periph periph_common bitfield newlib
+USEMODULE += arm7_common periph bitfield newlib
diff --git a/cpu/mips32r2_common/Makefile.include b/cpu/mips32r2_common/Makefile.include
index 8924ee5037..50b846e15b 100644
--- a/cpu/mips32r2_common/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/mips32r2_common/Makefile.include
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ export INCLUDES += -I$(RIOTCPU)/mips32r2_common/include
 
 export USEMODULE += mips32r2_common
 export USEMODULE += mips32r2_common_periph
-export USEMODULE += periph_common
 export USEMODULE += newlib
 
 # mips32 needs periph_timer for its gettimeofday() implementation
diff --git a/cpu/mips_pic32_common/Makefile.include b/cpu/mips_pic32_common/Makefile.include
index e0582db5dd..e91a1b5cee 100644
--- a/cpu/mips_pic32_common/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/mips_pic32_common/Makefile.include
@@ -4,5 +4,3 @@ export INCLUDES += -I$(RIOTCPU)/mips_pic32_common/include
 
 USEMODULE += mips_pic32_common
 USEMODULE += mips_pic32_common_periph
-
-USEMODULE += periph_common
diff --git a/cpu/msp430_common/Makefile.include b/cpu/msp430_common/Makefile.include
index 3e358b5871..36d028e370 100644
--- a/cpu/msp430_common/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/msp430_common/Makefile.include
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ MODEL = $(shell echo $(CPU_MODEL) | tr 'a-z' 'A-Z')
 export CFLAGS += -DCPU_MODEL_$(MODEL)
 
 export UNDEF += $(BINDIR)/msp430_common/startup.o
-export USEMODULE += msp430_common msp430_common_periph msp430_malloc periph_common
+export USEMODULE += msp430_common msp430_common_periph msp430_malloc
 
 DEFAULT_MODULE += oneway_malloc
 
diff --git a/cpu/msp430fxyz/Makefile.include b/cpu/msp430fxyz/Makefile.include
index 044bd13233..f3ceaf30b0 100644
--- a/cpu/msp430fxyz/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/msp430fxyz/Makefile.include
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 include $(RIOTCPU)/msp430_common/Makefile.include
 
-export USEMODULE += periph periph_common stdio_uart
+export USEMODULE += periph stdio_uart
diff --git a/cpu/native/Makefile.include b/cpu/native/Makefile.include
index 76ddd9ead0..4e213560e1 100644
--- a/cpu/native/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/native/Makefile.include
@@ -8,7 +8,4 @@ endif
 USEMODULE += periph
 USEMODULE += periph_uart
 
-# include common peripheral initialization
-USEMODULE += periph_common
-
 TOOLCHAINS_SUPPORTED = gnu llvm
diff --git a/cpu/nrf5x_common/Makefile.include b/cpu/nrf5x_common/Makefile.include
index 3bb12bc975..407563ea3b 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf5x_common/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/nrf5x_common/Makefile.include
@@ -2,9 +2,6 @@
 FAM = $(shell echo $(CPU_FAM) | tr 'a-z-' 'A-Z_')
 export CFLAGS += -DCPU_FAM_$(FAM)
 
-# use common periph functions
-USEMODULE += periph_common
-
 # include nrf5x common periph drivers
 USEMODULE += nrf5x_common_periph
 
diff --git a/cpu/sam0_common/Makefile.include b/cpu/sam0_common/Makefile.include
index 2b561fc7d5..dd1db86930 100644
--- a/cpu/sam0_common/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/sam0_common/Makefile.include
@@ -22,9 +22,6 @@ export CFLAGS += -DDONT_USE_PREDEFINED_PERIPHERALS_HANDLERS
 # For Cortex-M cpu we use the common cortexm.ld linker script
 LINKER_SCRIPT ?= cortexm.ld
 
-# use common periph functions
-USEMODULE += periph_common
-
 # include sam0 common periph drivers
 USEMODULE += sam0_common_periph
 
diff --git a/cpu/sam3/Makefile.include b/cpu/sam3/Makefile.include
index 1e2e8b9182..76410eb754 100644
--- a/cpu/sam3/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/sam3/Makefile.include
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m3
 export CPU_FAM  = sam3
 
-# include common SPI functions
-USEMODULE += periph_common
-
 include $(RIOTCPU)/sam_common/Makefile.include
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
diff --git a/cpu/stm32_common/Makefile.include b/cpu/stm32_common/Makefile.include
index 3a92639203..b897f5c60f 100644
--- a/cpu/stm32_common/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/stm32_common/Makefile.include
@@ -2,9 +2,6 @@
 FAM = $(shell echo $(CPU_FAM) | tr 'a-z-' 'A-Z_')
 export CFLAGS += -DCPU_FAM_$(FAM)
 
-# include common periph module
-USEMODULE += periph_common
-
 # All stm32 families provide pm support
 USEMODULE += pm_layered
 
diff --git a/makefiles/arch/atmega.inc.mk b/makefiles/arch/atmega.inc.mk
index b45178e301..6636bb4838 100644
--- a/makefiles/arch/atmega.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/arch/atmega.inc.mk
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ USEMODULE += atmega_common
 
 # export the peripheral drivers to be linked into the final binary
 USEMODULE += atmega_common_periph
-USEMODULE += periph_common
 
 # Export the peripheral drivers to be linked into the final binary, for now
 # only atmega126rfr2 has periph drivers
diff --git a/makefiles/arch/cortexm.inc.mk b/makefiles/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
index 0416869b90..dc1794822a 100644
--- a/makefiles/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ export USEMODULE += cortexm_common
 # Export the peripheral drivers to be linked into the final binary:
 export USEMODULE += periph
 # include common periph code
-export USEMODULE += periph_common
 export USEMODULE += cortexm_common_periph
 
 # all cortex MCU's use newlib as libc