diff --git a/tests/Makefile.tests_common b/tests/Makefile.tests_common
index 87bbe30655..e3dcaa00e3 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile.tests_common
+++ b/tests/Makefile.tests_common
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 APPLICATION ?= tests_$(notdir $(patsubst %/,%,$(CURDIR)))
+
+DEFAULT_MODULE += test_utils_interactive_sync
+
 ifneq (,$(filter tests_driver_%,$(APPLICATION)))
   BOARD ?= samr21-xpro
 endif
diff --git a/tests/bloom_bytes/main.c b/tests/bloom_bytes/main.c
index 64a6e78b53..0ab9940630 100644
--- a/tests/bloom_bytes/main.c
+++ b/tests/bloom_bytes/main.c
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 #include "xtimer.h"
 #include "fmt.h"
 
@@ -63,6 +65,8 @@ int main(void)
 
     bloom_init(&bloom, BLOOM_BITS, bf, hashes, BLOOM_HASHF);
 
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     printf("Testing Bloom filter.\n\n");
     printf("m: %" PRIu32 " k: %" PRIu32 "\n\n", (uint32_t) bloom.m,
            (uint32_t) bloom.k);
diff --git a/tests/cond_order/main.c b/tests/cond_order/main.c
index e0b0f8bf7f..249c776af9 100644
--- a/tests/cond_order/main.c
+++ b/tests/cond_order/main.c
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 #include "cond.h"
 #include "mutex.h"
 #include "thread.h"
-#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
 
 #define THREAD_NUMOF            (5U)
 #define THREAD_FIRSTGROUP_NUMOF (3U)
@@ -63,8 +62,6 @@ int main(void)
     puts("Condition variable order test");
     puts("Please refer to the README.md for more information\n");
 
-    test_utils_interactive_sync();
-
     mutex_init(&testlock);
     cond_init(&testcond);
 
diff --git a/tests/cond_order/tests/01-run.py b/tests/cond_order/tests/01-run.py
index 48f0d7c2e5..5baecfd4fa 100755
--- a/tests/cond_order/tests/01-run.py
+++ b/tests/cond_order/tests/01-run.py
@@ -10,8 +10,6 @@
 import os
 import sys
 
-from testrunner import test_utils_interactive_sync
-
 thread_prio = {
         3:  6,
         4:  4,
@@ -23,7 +21,6 @@ first_group_size = 3
 
 
 def testfunc(child):
-    test_utils_interactive_sync(child)
 
     for k in thread_prio.keys():
         child.expect_exact("T{} (prio {}): waiting on condition variable now"
diff --git a/tests/cpp_ctors/main.c b/tests/cpp_ctors/main.c
index 93316164f4..184f5a6a15 100644
--- a/tests/cpp_ctors/main.c
+++ b/tests/cpp_ctors/main.c
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include "embUnit.h"
 #include "tests-cpp_ctors.h"
 #include "thread.h" /* For thread_getpid() */
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
 
 long tests_cpp_ctors_global_value(void);
 long tests_cpp_ctors_static_value(void);
@@ -58,6 +59,8 @@ Test *tests_cpp_ctors_tests(void)
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     TESTS_START();
     TESTS_RUN(tests_cpp_ctors_tests());
     TESTS_END();
diff --git a/tests/driver_nrfmin/tests/01-run.py b/tests/driver_nrfmin/tests/01-run.py
index 7329c74091..24b69cb14d 100755
--- a/tests/driver_nrfmin/tests/01-run.py
+++ b/tests/driver_nrfmin/tests/01-run.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ from testrunner import run
 
 
 def testfunc(child):
-    child.expect("All up, running the shell now")
     child.sendline("ifconfig")
     child.expect(r"Iface\s+(\d+)\s+HWaddr:")
 
diff --git a/tests/float/main.c b/tests/float/main.c
index 55cd4d238f..8216d29cb4 100644
--- a/tests/float/main.c
+++ b/tests/float/main.c
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <math.h>
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 #include "board.h"
 
 /* as default we run the test 100k times */
@@ -34,6 +36,8 @@
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     double x = 1234567.0 / 1024.0;
 
     puts("Testing floating point arithmetic...\n");
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile
index d51860e533..79bc3382a1 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ USEMODULE += shell
 USEMODULE += shell_commands
 USEMODULE += ps
 
+DISABLE_MODULE += test_utils_interactive_sync
+
 # The test requires some setup and to be run as root
 # So it cannot currently be run
 TEST_ON_CI_BLACKLIST += all
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext_frag/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext_frag/Makefile
index 80884344db..19fe733bde 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext_frag/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext_frag/Makefile
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ USEMODULE += shell
 USEMODULE += shell_commands
 USEMODULE += ps
 
+DISABLE_MODULE += test_utils_interactive_sync
+
 # The test requires some setup and to be run as root
 # So it cannot currently be run
 TEST_ON_CI_BLACKLIST += all
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_rpl_srh/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_rpl_srh/Makefile
index 79d4cd74b9..4be5e28b19 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_rpl_srh/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_rpl_srh/Makefile
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ USEMODULE += shell
 USEMODULE += shell_commands
 USEMODULE += ps
 
+DISABLE_MODULE += test_utils_interactive_sync
+
 # The test requires some setup and to be run as root
 # So it cannot currently be run
 TEST_ON_CI_BLACKLIST += all
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag/main.c b/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag/main.c
index 5162bb83c6..40b711a92c 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag/main.c
+++ b/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag/main.c
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@
 #include "net/gnrc/sixlowpan/frag/rb.h"
 #include "xtimer.h"
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 #define TEST_NETIF_HDR_SRC      { 0xb3, 0x47, 0x60, 0x49, \
                                   0x78, 0xfe, 0x95, 0x48 }
 #define TEST_NETIF_HDR_DST      { 0xa4, 0xf2, 0xd2, 0xc9, \
@@ -627,6 +629,8 @@ static void run_unittests(void)
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     /* no auto-init, so xtimer needs to be initialized manually*/
     xtimer_init();
     /* netreg requires queue, but queue size one should be enough for us */
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_sock_dns/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_sock_dns/Makefile
index 5837b7bec5..ef2d5bf380 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_sock_dns/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_sock_dns/Makefile
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ USEMODULE += shell_commands
 
 USEMODULE += posix_inet
 
+DISABLE_MODULE += test_utils_interactive_sync
+
 LOW_MEMORY_BOARDS := nucleo-f334r8 msb-430 msb-430h
 
 ifeq ($(BOARD),$(filter $(BOARD),$(LOW_MEMORY_BOARDS)))
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_tcp/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_tcp/Makefile
index 88abd3bd5e..ea2f5faefd 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_tcp/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_tcp/Makefile
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ USEMODULE += shell
 USEMODULE += shell_commands
 USEMODULE += od
 
+DISABLE_MODULE += test_utils_interactive_sync
+
 # Export used tap device to environment
 export TAPDEV = $(TAP)
 
diff --git a/tests/heap_cmd/tests/01-run.py b/tests/heap_cmd/tests/01-run.py
index e2996eae43..e550a74477 100755
--- a/tests/heap_cmd/tests/01-run.py
+++ b/tests/heap_cmd/tests/01-run.py
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ from testrunner import run
 
 def testfunc(child):
     # check startup message
-    child.expect('Shell-based test application for heap functions.')
     child.sendline('heap')
     ret = child.expect([r'heap: \d+ \(used \d+, free \d+\) \[bytes\]', 'heap statistics are not supported'])
     if ret == 1:
diff --git a/tests/lwip/Makefile b/tests/lwip/Makefile
index 395e20a086..21444e0310 100644
--- a/tests/lwip/Makefile
+++ b/tests/lwip/Makefile
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ ifneq ($(BOARD),native)
   TESTS=
 endif
 
+DISABLE_MODULE += test_utils_interactive_sync
+
 # test fails on murdock and on my machine due to the process exiting directly
 TEST_ON_CI_BLACKLIST += all
 
diff --git a/tests/lwip_sock_ip/main.c b/tests/lwip_sock_ip/main.c
index 638ca9057b..9e1097ab82 100644
--- a/tests/lwip_sock_ip/main.c
+++ b/tests/lwip_sock_ip/main.c
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 #include "net/sock/ip.h"
 #include "xtimer.h"
 
@@ -1081,6 +1083,8 @@ int main(void)
 {
     uint8_t code = 0;
 
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
 #ifdef SO_REUSE
     code |= 1;
 #endif
diff --git a/tests/lwip_sock_tcp/main.c b/tests/lwip_sock_tcp/main.c
index 5b98ce2142..88b9352c61 100644
--- a/tests/lwip_sock_tcp/main.c
+++ b/tests/lwip_sock_tcp/main.c
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@
 #include "constants.h"
 #include "stack.h"
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 #define _TEST_BUFFER_SIZE   (128)
 #define _QUEUE_SIZE         (1)
 
@@ -958,6 +960,8 @@ static void test_tcp_write6__success(void)
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     uint8_t code = 0;
 
 #ifdef SO_REUSE
diff --git a/tests/lwip_sock_udp/main.c b/tests/lwip_sock_udp/main.c
index aa0e6445e5..25aa415dca 100644
--- a/tests/lwip_sock_udp/main.c
+++ b/tests/lwip_sock_udp/main.c
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@
 #include "constants.h"
 #include "stack.h"
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 #define _TEST_BUFFER_SIZE   (128)
 
 static uint8_t _test_buffer[_TEST_BUFFER_SIZE];
@@ -1317,6 +1319,8 @@ static void test_sock_udp_send6__no_sock(void)
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     uint8_t code = 0;
 
 #ifdef SO_REUSE
diff --git a/tests/minimal/Makefile b/tests/minimal/Makefile
index 9bb62e0d41..0fb779d31e 100644
--- a/tests/minimal/Makefile
+++ b/tests/minimal/Makefile
@@ -4,5 +4,6 @@ include ../Makefile.tests_common
 CFLAGS += -DNDEBUG -DLOG_LEVEL=LOG_NONE
 
 DISABLE_MODULE += auto_init
+DISABLE_MODULE += test_utils_interactive_sync
 
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
diff --git a/tests/msg_avail/main.c b/tests/msg_avail/main.c
index a01291f220..3a9a2cde71 100644
--- a/tests/msg_avail/main.c
+++ b/tests/msg_avail/main.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 #include "log.h"
 #include "msg.h"
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
 
 #define MSG_QUEUE_LENGTH                (8)
 
@@ -32,11 +33,14 @@ msg_t msg_queue[MSG_QUEUE_LENGTH];
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     msg_t msges[MSG_QUEUE_LENGTH];
 
     msg_init_queue(msg_queue, MSG_QUEUE_LENGTH);
 
     puts("[START]");
+
     /* add message to own queue */
     for (int idx = 0; idx < MSG_QUEUE_LENGTH; ++idx) {
         msges[idx].type = idx;
diff --git a/tests/mutex_unlock_and_sleep/main.c b/tests/mutex_unlock_and_sleep/main.c
index 3ef949f780..891940a01b 100644
--- a/tests/mutex_unlock_and_sleep/main.c
+++ b/tests/mutex_unlock_and_sleep/main.c
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 #include "thread.h"
 #include "mutex.h"
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 static mutex_t mutex = MUTEX_INIT;
 static volatile int indicator;
 static kernel_pid_t main_pid;
@@ -47,6 +49,8 @@ static void *second_thread(void *arg)
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     uint32_t count = 0;
     uint32_t kcount = 0;
 
diff --git a/tests/netdev_test/main.c b/tests/netdev_test/main.c
index 2ba913765f..1a17519e79 100644
--- a/tests/netdev_test/main.c
+++ b/tests/netdev_test/main.c
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@
 #include "thread.h"
 #include "utlist.h"
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 #define _EXP_LENGTH     (64)
 
 #define _MAC_STACKSIZE  (THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT + THREAD_EXTRA_STACKSIZE_PRINTF)
@@ -249,6 +251,8 @@ static int test_set_addr(void)
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     /* initialization */
     gnrc_pktbuf_init();
     msg_init_queue(_main_msg_queue, _MAIN_MSG_QUEUE_SIZE);
diff --git a/tests/nordic_softdevice/tests/01-run.py b/tests/nordic_softdevice/tests/01-run.py
index f7159611a3..f00235dd3d 100755
--- a/tests/nordic_softdevice/tests/01-run.py
+++ b/tests/nordic_softdevice/tests/01-run.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ from testrunner import run
 
 
 def testfunc(child):
-    child.expect_exact("All up, running the shell now")
     child.expect_exact(">")
     time.sleep(1)  # Wait 1s to let some time for the interface to be fully ready
     child.sendline("ifconfig")
diff --git a/tests/periph_rtt/main.c b/tests/periph_rtt/main.c
index a0647ff45d..a0b6080587 100644
--- a/tests/periph_rtt/main.c
+++ b/tests/periph_rtt/main.c
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@
 #include "periph_conf.h"
 #include "periph/rtt.h"
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 #define TICKS_TO_WAIT       (5 * RTT_FREQUENCY)
 
 static volatile uint32_t last;
@@ -46,6 +48,8 @@ void cb(void *arg)
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     puts("\nRIOT RTT low-level driver test");
     puts("This test will display 'Hello' every 5 seconds\n");
 
diff --git a/tests/periph_wdt/Makefile b/tests/periph_wdt/Makefile
index a18b03d01e..6471052756 100644
--- a/tests/periph_wdt/Makefile
+++ b/tests/periph_wdt/Makefile
@@ -5,5 +5,6 @@ FEATURES_REQUIRED += periph_wdt
 
 USEMODULE += xtimer
 USEMODULE += shell
+USEMODULE += shell_commands
 
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
diff --git a/tests/pkg_libfixmath/Makefile b/tests/pkg_libfixmath/Makefile
index 48e34009ee..5ddd984d17 100644
--- a/tests/pkg_libfixmath/Makefile
+++ b/tests/pkg_libfixmath/Makefile
@@ -2,6 +2,5 @@ include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 USEPKG += libfixmath
 USEMODULE += libfixmath
-USEMODULE += test_utils_interactive_sync
 
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
diff --git a/tests/pkg_libfixmath/main.c b/tests/pkg_libfixmath/main.c
index b66aeaf5a9..6b39b73237 100644
--- a/tests/pkg_libfixmath/main.c
+++ b/tests/pkg_libfixmath/main.c
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@
 
 #include "kernel_defines.h"
 #include "fix16.h"
-#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
 
 #ifndef M_PI
 #   define M_PI 3.14159265359
@@ -238,9 +237,6 @@ static void unary_ops(void)
 
 int main(void)
 {
-    /* Sync to prevent flooding of buffer */
-    test_utils_interactive_sync();
-
     puts("Unary.");
     unary_ops();
 
diff --git a/tests/pkg_libfixmath/tests/01-run.py b/tests/pkg_libfixmath/tests/01-run.py
index a32a2471c2..065b06c41c 100755
--- a/tests/pkg_libfixmath/tests/01-run.py
+++ b/tests/pkg_libfixmath/tests/01-run.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 
 import sys
-from testrunner import run, test_utils_interactive_sync
+from testrunner import run
 
 
 def expect_unary(child):
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ def expect_binary(child):
 
 
 def testfunc(child):
-    test_utils_interactive_sync(child)
     child.expect_exact('Unary.')
     expect_unary(child)
     child.expect_exact('Binary.')
diff --git a/tests/posix_semaphore/main.c b/tests/posix_semaphore/main.c
index 3447851327..9f5b54fe82 100644
--- a/tests/posix_semaphore/main.c
+++ b/tests/posix_semaphore/main.c
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@
 #include "thread.h"
 #include "xtimer.h"
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 #define SEMAPHORE_MSG_QUEUE_SIZE        (8)
 #define SEMAPHORE_TEST_THREADS          (5)
 static char test1_thread_stack[THREAD_STACKSIZE_MAIN];
@@ -292,6 +294,8 @@ void test4(void)
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     msg_init_queue(main_msg_queue, SEMAPHORE_MSG_QUEUE_SIZE);
     xtimer_init();
     puts("######################### TEST1:");
diff --git a/tests/posix_time/Makefile b/tests/posix_time/Makefile
index ceab1bf0f9..65e58f6d25 100644
--- a/tests/posix_time/Makefile
+++ b/tests/posix_time/Makefile
@@ -2,6 +2,4 @@ include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 USEMODULE += posix_time
 
-USEMODULE += test_utils_interactive_sync
-
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
diff --git a/tests/posix_time/main.c b/tests/posix_time/main.c
index 670838ca14..1f5c859ea1 100644
--- a/tests/posix_time/main.c
+++ b/tests/posix_time/main.c
@@ -26,11 +26,9 @@
 
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
-#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
 
 int main(void)
 {
-    test_utils_interactive_sync();
     puts("5 x usleep(i++ * 500000)");
     for (unsigned i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
         useconds_t us = i * 500000u;
diff --git a/tests/posix_time/tests/01-run.py b/tests/posix_time/tests/01-run.py
index 8a2d57433a..13e39795c2 100755
--- a/tests/posix_time/tests/01-run.py
+++ b/tests/posix_time/tests/01-run.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 import sys
 import time
-from testrunner import run, test_utils_interactive_sync
+from testrunner import run
 
 US_PER_SEC = 1000000
 EXTERNAL_JITTER = 0.15
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ class InvalidTimeout(Exception):
 
 def testfunc(child):
     try:
-        test_utils_interactive_sync(child)
         start_test = time.time()
         child.expect_exact("5 x usleep(i++ * 500000)")
         for i in range(5):
diff --git a/tests/ps_schedstatistics/main.c b/tests/ps_schedstatistics/main.c
index a5086968da..f6f8a28301 100644
--- a/tests/ps_schedstatistics/main.c
+++ b/tests/ps_schedstatistics/main.c
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@
 #include <thread.h>
 #include <xtimer.h>
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 #define NB_THREADS  (5U)
 
 static char stacks[NB_THREADS][THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT];
@@ -54,6 +56,8 @@ static void *_thread_fn(void *arg)
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     for (unsigned i = 0; i < NB_THREADS; ++i) {
         pids[i] = thread_create(stacks[i], sizeof(stacks[i]),
                                 THREAD_PRIORITY_MAIN - 1,
diff --git a/tests/shell/Makefile b/tests/shell/Makefile
index 58e0ef46c0..1f24e1e947 100644
--- a/tests/shell/Makefile
+++ b/tests/shell/Makefile
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ USEMODULE += ps
 RIOT_TERMINAL ?= socat
 
 DISABLE_MODULE += auto_init
+DISABLE_MODULE += test_utils_interactive_sync
 
 # chronos is missing a getchar implementation
 BOARD_BLACKLIST += chronos
diff --git a/tests/socket_zep/main.c b/tests/socket_zep/main.c
index d5e9ee3823..25d087d2de 100644
--- a/tests/socket_zep/main.c
+++ b/tests/socket_zep/main.c
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@
 #include "msg.h"
 #include "od.h"
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 #define MSG_QUEUE_SIZE  (8)
 #define MSG_TYPE_ISR    (0x3456)
 #define RECVBUF_SIZE    (IEEE802154_FRAME_LEN_MAX)
@@ -104,6 +106,8 @@ static void test_recv(void)
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     puts("Socket ZEP device driver test");
     msg_init_queue(_msg_queue, MSG_QUEUE_SIZE);
     _main_pid = sched_active_pid;
diff --git a/tests/stdin/Makefile b/tests/stdin/Makefile
index 039280f316..9a120a17f8 100644
--- a/tests/stdin/Makefile
+++ b/tests/stdin/Makefile
@@ -2,4 +2,6 @@ include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 USEMODULE += stdin
 
+DISABLE_MODULE += test_utils_interactive_sync
+
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
diff --git a/tests/struct_tm_utility/Makefile b/tests/struct_tm_utility/Makefile
index 650c2b2589..5b2bf84c2c 100644
--- a/tests/struct_tm_utility/Makefile
+++ b/tests/struct_tm_utility/Makefile
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ include ../Makefile.tests_common
 DISABLE_MODULE += auto_init
 
 USEMODULE += shell
+USEMODULE += shell_commands
 USEMODULE += timex
 
 # The MSP-430 toolchain lacks sscanf:
diff --git a/tests/thread_basic/main.c b/tests/thread_basic/main.c
index 457668095a..46a59724d0 100644
--- a/tests/thread_basic/main.c
+++ b/tests/thread_basic/main.c
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include "thread.h"
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 char t2_stack[THREAD_STACKSIZE_MAIN];
 
 void *second_thread(void *arg)
@@ -32,6 +34,8 @@ void *second_thread(void *arg)
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     (void) thread_create(
             t2_stack, sizeof(t2_stack),
             THREAD_PRIORITY_MAIN - 1,
diff --git a/tests/thread_cooperation/main.c b/tests/thread_cooperation/main.c
index ec20e0cf77..1466bf5e4c 100644
--- a/tests/thread_cooperation/main.c
+++ b/tests/thread_cooperation/main.c
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@
 #include "thread.h"
 #include "mutex.h"
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 #ifndef PROBLEM
 #define PROBLEM 12
 #endif
@@ -64,6 +66,8 @@ int main(void)
     kernel_pid_t ths;
     uint32_t factorial = 1;
 
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     printf("[START] compute %d! (factorial).\n", PROBLEM);
 
     for (int i = 0; i < PROBLEM; ++i) {
diff --git a/tests/thread_exit/main.c b/tests/thread_exit/main.c
index ed4b040bfd..ffe8c838d3 100644
--- a/tests/thread_exit/main.c
+++ b/tests/thread_exit/main.c
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 
 #include "thread.h"
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 char second_thread_stack[THREAD_STACKSIZE_MAIN];
 char third_thread_stack[THREAD_STACKSIZE_MAIN];
 
@@ -78,6 +80,7 @@ void *second_thread(void *arg)
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
     puts("main: starting");
 
     if ((thread_create(
diff --git a/tests/thread_flood/main.c b/tests/thread_flood/main.c
index bfc58d1c5c..bb442e58e4 100644
--- a/tests/thread_flood/main.c
+++ b/tests/thread_flood/main.c
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@
 #include "thread.h"
 #include "kernel_types.h"
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 /* One stack for all threads. DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!! */
 static char dummy_stack[THREAD_STACKSIZE_IDLE];
 
@@ -37,6 +39,8 @@ static void *thread_func(void *arg)
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     kernel_pid_t thr_id = KERNEL_PID_UNDEF;
     unsigned thr_cnt = 0;
 
diff --git a/tests/thread_msg/main.c b/tests/thread_msg/main.c
index 353238746e..fcbbbf0f63 100644
--- a/tests/thread_msg/main.c
+++ b/tests/thread_msg/main.c
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 #include "thread.h"
 #include "msg.h"
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 char t1_stack[THREAD_STACKSIZE_MAIN];
 char t2_stack[THREAD_STACKSIZE_MAIN];
 char t3_stack[THREAD_STACKSIZE_MAIN];
@@ -85,6 +87,8 @@ void *thread3(void *arg)
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     p_main = sched_active_pid;
     p1 = thread_create(t1_stack, sizeof(t1_stack), THREAD_PRIORITY_MAIN - 1,
                        THREAD_CREATE_WOUT_YIELD | THREAD_CREATE_STACKTEST,
diff --git a/tests/thread_msg_block_race/main.c b/tests/thread_msg_block_race/main.c
index 39ff14de3d..041b6514e9 100644
--- a/tests/thread_msg_block_race/main.c
+++ b/tests/thread_msg_block_race/main.c
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@
 #include "thread.h"
 #include "msg.h"
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 #define CANARY_TYPE         (0x21fd)
 
 #define TIMER_FREQ          (1000000LU)
@@ -79,6 +81,8 @@ static void *_thread(void *arg)
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     kernel_pid_t pid;
 
     timer_init(TIMER_DEV(0), TIMER_FREQ, _timer, NULL);
diff --git a/tests/thread_msg_block_w_queue/main.c b/tests/thread_msg_block_w_queue/main.c
index cd1245d94a..8e2385a21b 100644
--- a/tests/thread_msg_block_w_queue/main.c
+++ b/tests/thread_msg_block_w_queue/main.c
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@
 #include "thread.h"
 #include "msg.h"
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 char t1_stack[THREAD_STACKSIZE_MAIN];
 
 kernel_pid_t p_send = KERNEL_PID_UNDEF, p_recv = KERNEL_PID_UNDEF;
@@ -54,6 +56,8 @@ void *sender_thread(void *arg)
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     msg_t msg;
     p_recv = sched_active_pid;
 
diff --git a/tests/thread_msg_block_wo_queue/main.c b/tests/thread_msg_block_wo_queue/main.c
index 28631e22c2..4cbb9dd64f 100644
--- a/tests/thread_msg_block_wo_queue/main.c
+++ b/tests/thread_msg_block_wo_queue/main.c
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@
 #include "thread.h"
 #include "msg.h"
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 char t1_stack[THREAD_STACKSIZE_MAIN];
 
 kernel_pid_t p_send = KERNEL_PID_UNDEF, p_recv = KERNEL_PID_UNDEF;
@@ -54,6 +56,8 @@ void *thread1(void *arg)
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     msg_t msg;
     p_recv = sched_active_pid;
 
diff --git a/tests/thread_msg_seq/main.c b/tests/thread_msg_seq/main.c
index d830323815..ae868d48cd 100644
--- a/tests/thread_msg_seq/main.c
+++ b/tests/thread_msg_seq/main.c
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@
 #include "thread.h"
 #include "msg.h"
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 char t1_stack[THREAD_STACKSIZE_MAIN];
 char t2_stack[THREAD_STACKSIZE_MAIN];
 char t3_stack[THREAD_STACKSIZE_MAIN];
@@ -51,6 +53,8 @@ void *sub_thread(void *arg)
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     puts("START");
     msg_t msg;
 
diff --git a/tests/thread_race/main.c b/tests/thread_race/main.c
index eb0f3332a0..91809796e6 100644
--- a/tests/thread_race/main.c
+++ b/tests/thread_race/main.c
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@
 #include "sched.h"
 #include "thread.h"
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 char iqr_check_stack[THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT];
 
 static volatile uint8_t irq_occurred;
@@ -65,6 +67,8 @@ static void _spin(void)
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
     puts("Context swap race condition test application");
 
     kernel_pid_t pid;
diff --git a/tests/unittests/main.c b/tests/unittests/main.c
index 453003a66d..8128bd5dd1 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/main.c
+++ b/tests/unittests/main.c
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 #include "embUnit.h"
 #include "xtimer.h"
 
+#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
+
 #define UNCURRY(FUN, ARGS) FUN(ARGS)
 #define RUN_TEST_SUITES(...) MAP(RUN_TEST_SUITE, __VA_ARGS__)
 #define RUN_TEST_SUITE(TEST_SUITE) \
@@ -21,6 +23,8 @@
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    test_utils_interactive_sync();
+
 #ifdef MODULE_XTIMER
     /* auto_init is disabled, but some modules depends on this module being initialized */
     xtimer_init();
diff --git a/tests/xtimer_usleep/Makefile b/tests/xtimer_usleep/Makefile
index 5e8d850ad1..2b46a09c6f 100644
--- a/tests/xtimer_usleep/Makefile
+++ b/tests/xtimer_usleep/Makefile
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@ USEMODULE += xtimer
 # This test randomly fails on `native` so disable it from CI
 TEST_ON_CI_BLACKLIST += native
 
-USEMODULE += test_utils_interactive_sync
-
 # Port and pin configuration for probing with oscilloscope
 # Port number should be found in port enum e.g in cpu/include/periph_cpu.h
 #FEATURES_REQUIRED += periph_gpio
diff --git a/tests/xtimer_usleep/main.c b/tests/xtimer_usleep/main.c
index f54d5c450e..558949cef0 100644
--- a/tests/xtimer_usleep/main.c
+++ b/tests/xtimer_usleep/main.c
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@
 
 #include "xtimer.h"
 #include "timex.h"
-#include "test_utils/interactive_sync.h"
 
 #define RUNS                (5U)
 #define SLEEP_TIMES_NUMOF   ARRAY_SIZE(sleep_times)
@@ -62,7 +61,6 @@ int main(void)
 
     printf("Running test %u times with %u distinct sleep times\n", RUNS,
            (unsigned)SLEEP_TIMES_NUMOF);
-    test_utils_interactive_sync();
     start_test = xtimer_now_usec();
     for (unsigned m = 0; m < RUNS; m++) {
         for (unsigned n = 0;
diff --git a/tests/xtimer_usleep/tests/01-run.py b/tests/xtimer_usleep/tests/01-run.py
index bcf0927baf..f629096073 100755
--- a/tests/xtimer_usleep/tests/01-run.py
+++ b/tests/xtimer_usleep/tests/01-run.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
 import sys
 import time
-from testrunner import run, test_utils_interactive_sync
+from testrunner import run
 
 
 US_PER_SEC = 1000000
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ def testfunc(child):
     RUNS = int(child.match.group(1))
     SLEEP_TIMES_NUMOF = int(child.match.group(2))
     try:
-        test_utils_interactive_sync(child)
         start_test = time.time()
         for m in range(RUNS):
             for n in range(SLEEP_TIMES_NUMOF):