diff --git a/boards/saml10-xpro/Makefile.include b/boards/saml10-xpro/Makefile.include
index e33947745c..6901e1f502 100644
--- a/boards/saml10-xpro/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/saml10-xpro/Makefile.include
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-export CPU_FAM  = saml10
+CPU_FAM = saml10
 CFLAGS += -D__SAML10E16A__
 
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/saml1x/Makefile.include
diff --git a/boards/saml11-xpro/Makefile.include b/boards/saml11-xpro/Makefile.include
index c24adbef10..4161a45cf2 100644
--- a/boards/saml11-xpro/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/saml11-xpro/Makefile.include
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-export CPU_FAM  = saml11
+CPU_FAM = saml11
 CFLAGS += -D__SAML11E16A__
 
 include $(RIOTBOARD)/common/saml1x/Makefile.include
diff --git a/cpu/cc2538/Makefile.include b/cpu/cc2538/Makefile.include
index 7a03b807df..1fe925bc54 100644
--- a/cpu/cc2538/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/cc2538/Makefile.include
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-export CPU_ARCH := cortex-m3
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m3
 
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
diff --git a/cpu/cc26x0/Makefile.include b/cpu/cc26x0/Makefile.include
index 7a03b807df..1fe925bc54 100644
--- a/cpu/cc26x0/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/cc26x0/Makefile.include
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-export CPU_ARCH := cortex-m3
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m3
 
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
diff --git a/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include b/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include
index cb5d566fc4..94cdda7a40 100644
--- a/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 include $(RIOTCPU)/efm32/efm32-info.mk
 
-export CPU_ARCH = $(EFM32_ARCHITECTURE)
-export CPU_FAM = $(EFM32_FAMILY)
+CPU_ARCH = $(EFM32_ARCHITECTURE)
+CPU_FAM = $(EFM32_FAMILY)
 
 # the size of riotboot on the EFM32 exceeds the default value
 RIOTBOOT_LEN ?= 0x2000
diff --git a/cpu/ezr32wg/Makefile.include b/cpu/ezr32wg/Makefile.include
index 1e08098b24..6fdedf4c05 100644
--- a/cpu/ezr32wg/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/ezr32wg/Makefile.include
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m4f
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m4f
 
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
diff --git a/cpu/kinetis/kinetis-info.mk b/cpu/kinetis/kinetis-info.mk
index aca8caec3b..8ca1b14cea 100644
--- a/cpu/kinetis/kinetis-info.mk
+++ b/cpu/kinetis/kinetis-info.mk
@@ -31,17 +31,17 @@ export KINETIS_SPEED := $(word 11, $(KINETIS_INFO))
 
 ifeq ($(KINETIS_CORE), Z)
   # Cortex-M0+
-  export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m0plus
-  export CPU_FAMILY = klx
+  CPU_ARCH = cortex-m0plus
+  CPU_FAMILY = klx
 else ifeq ($(KINETIS_CORE), D)
   # Cortex-M4
-  export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m4
-  export CPU_FAMILY = kx
+  CPU_ARCH = cortex-m4
+  CPU_FAMILY = kx
 else ifeq ($(KINETIS_CORE), F)
   # Cortex-M4F or Cortex-M7
   # TODO: Add floating point support
-  export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m4
-  export CPU_FAMILY = kx
+  CPU_ARCH = cortex-m4
+  CPU_FAMILY = kx
 endif
 
 # RAM sizes are a bit arbitrary, but are usually dependent on ROM size and core speed.
diff --git a/cpu/lm4f120/Makefile.include b/cpu/lm4f120/Makefile.include
index 4570e4a1bc..c7b25bb927 100644
--- a/cpu/lm4f120/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/lm4f120/Makefile.include
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m4f
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m4f
 
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
 
diff --git a/cpu/lpc1768/Makefile.include b/cpu/lpc1768/Makefile.include
index f98dd6eba7..7897d949a4 100644
--- a/cpu/lpc1768/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/lpc1768/Makefile.include
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m3
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m3
 
 USEMODULE += pm_layered
 
diff --git a/cpu/nrf51/Makefile.include b/cpu/nrf51/Makefile.include
index b182bf12fa..065e1b5f3e 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf51/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/nrf51/Makefile.include
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m0
-export CPU_FAM  = nrf51
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m0
+CPU_FAM  = nrf51
 
 include $(RIOTCPU)/nrf5x_common/Makefile.include
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
diff --git a/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.include b/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.include
index 5b59f412b0..c6a9ed6913 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.include
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m4f
-export CPU_FAM  = nrf52
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m4f
+CPU_FAM  = nrf52
 
 # Slot size is determined by "((total_flash_size - RIOTBOOT_LEN) / 2)".
 # If RIOTBOOT_LEN uses an uneven number of flashpages, the remainder of the
diff --git a/cpu/sam3/Makefile.include b/cpu/sam3/Makefile.include
index 76410eb754..6310a1e913 100644
--- a/cpu/sam3/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/sam3/Makefile.include
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m3
-export CPU_FAM  = sam3
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m3
+CPU_FAM  = sam3
 
 include $(RIOTCPU)/sam_common/Makefile.include
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
diff --git a/cpu/samd21/Makefile.include b/cpu/samd21/Makefile.include
index e5486c8a89..2576ff4ed2 100644
--- a/cpu/samd21/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/samd21/Makefile.include
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m0plus
-export CPU_FAM  = samd21
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m0plus
+CPU_FAM  = samd21
 
 USEMODULE += pm_layered
 
diff --git a/cpu/samd5x/Makefile.include b/cpu/samd5x/Makefile.include
index c83d5399e5..4484c2497e 100644
--- a/cpu/samd5x/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/samd5x/Makefile.include
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m4f
-export CPU_FAM  = samd5x
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m4f
+CPU_FAM  = samd5x
 
 # Slot size is determined by "((total_flash_size - RIOTBOOT_LEN) / 2)".
 # If RIOTBOOT_LEN uses an uneven number of flashpages, the remainder of the
diff --git a/cpu/saml1x/Makefile.include b/cpu/saml1x/Makefile.include
index 2342d0fc2d..c552017b2d 100644
--- a/cpu/saml1x/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/saml1x/Makefile.include
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m23
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m23
 
 USEMODULE += pm_layered
 
diff --git a/cpu/saml21/Makefile.include b/cpu/saml21/Makefile.include
index e0d91c7fde..f42f494a78 100644
--- a/cpu/saml21/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/saml21/Makefile.include
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m0plus
-export CPU_FAM  = saml21
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m0plus
+CPU_FAM  = saml21
 
 USEMODULE += pm_layered
 
diff --git a/cpu/stm32f0/Makefile.include b/cpu/stm32f0/Makefile.include
index 18fc5c661d..5860ac1e33 100644
--- a/cpu/stm32f0/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/stm32f0/Makefile.include
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m0
-export CPU_FAM  = stm32f0
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m0
+CPU_FAM  = stm32f0
 
 include $(RIOTCPU)/stm32_common/Makefile.include
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
diff --git a/cpu/stm32f1/Makefile.include b/cpu/stm32f1/Makefile.include
index 7ca8e6dec6..572e7a6b58 100644
--- a/cpu/stm32f1/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/stm32f1/Makefile.include
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m3
-export CPU_FAM  = stm32f1
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m3
+CPU_FAM  = stm32f1
 
 include $(RIOTCPU)/stm32_common/Makefile.include
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
diff --git a/cpu/stm32f2/Makefile.include b/cpu/stm32f2/Makefile.include
index e5d37fb4ea..b01f22ed62 100644
--- a/cpu/stm32f2/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/stm32f2/Makefile.include
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m3
-export CPU_FAM  = stm32f2
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m3
+CPU_FAM  = stm32f2
 
 # STM32F2 uses sectors instead of pages, where the minimum sector length is 16KB
 # (the first sector), therefore RIOTBOOT_LEN must be 16KB to cover a whole sector.
diff --git a/cpu/stm32f3/Makefile.include b/cpu/stm32f3/Makefile.include
index 3ad9e9546c..e2648b9a5d 100644
--- a/cpu/stm32f3/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/stm32f3/Makefile.include
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m4f
-export CPU_FAM  = stm32f3
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m4f
+CPU_FAM  = stm32f3
 
 include $(RIOTCPU)/stm32_common/Makefile.include
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
diff --git a/cpu/stm32f4/Makefile.include b/cpu/stm32f4/Makefile.include
index e6ee4ee22f..5258a494b8 100644
--- a/cpu/stm32f4/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/stm32f4/Makefile.include
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m4f
-export CPU_FAM  = stm32f4
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m4f
+CPU_FAM  = stm32f4
 
 # STM32F4 uses sectors instead of pages, where the minimum sector length is 16KB
 # (the first sector), therefore RIOTBOOT_LEN must be 16KB to cover a whole sector.
diff --git a/cpu/stm32f7/Makefile.include b/cpu/stm32f7/Makefile.include
index d3a25f6bad..4d0d5243a4 100644
--- a/cpu/stm32f7/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/stm32f7/Makefile.include
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m7
-export CPU_FAM  = stm32f7
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m7
+CPU_FAM  = stm32f7
 
 # STM32F7 uses sectors instead of pages, where the minimum sector length is 16KB or
 # 32kB (the first sector), depending on the CPU_MODEL. Therefore RIOTBOOT_LEN must
diff --git a/cpu/stm32l0/Makefile.include b/cpu/stm32l0/Makefile.include
index ccf6a3b05e..8e09dbaed2 100644
--- a/cpu/stm32l0/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/stm32l0/Makefile.include
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m0plus
-export CPU_FAM  = stm32l0
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m0plus
+CPU_FAM  = stm32l0
 
 include $(RIOTCPU)/stm32_common/Makefile.include
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
diff --git a/cpu/stm32l1/Makefile.include b/cpu/stm32l1/Makefile.include
index 3d6f379e13..46bb58c516 100644
--- a/cpu/stm32l1/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/stm32l1/Makefile.include
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m3
-export CPU_FAM  = stm32l1
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m3
+CPU_FAM  = stm32l1
 
 include $(RIOTCPU)/stm32_common/Makefile.include
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
diff --git a/cpu/stm32l4/Makefile.include b/cpu/stm32l4/Makefile.include
index a2f364d6d0..91eae9acdd 100644
--- a/cpu/stm32l4/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/stm32l4/Makefile.include
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-export CPU_ARCH = cortex-m4f
-export CPU_FAM  = stm32l4
+CPU_ARCH = cortex-m4f
+CPU_FAM  = stm32l4
 
 # "The Vector table must be naturally aligned to a power of two whose alignment
 # value is greater than or equal to number of Exceptions supported x 4"
diff --git a/dist/tools/buildsystem_sanity_check/check.sh b/dist/tools/buildsystem_sanity_check/check.sh
index 6fabde740f..ba9b88d97b 100755
--- a/dist/tools/buildsystem_sanity_check/check.sh
+++ b/dist/tools/buildsystem_sanity_check/check.sh
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@ UNEXPORTED_VARIABLES+=('PORT_LINUX' 'PORT_DARWIN')
 UNEXPORTED_VARIABLES+=('PORT[ ?=:]' 'PORT$')
 
 EXPORTED_VARIABLES_ONLY_IN_VARS=()
+EXPORTED_VARIABLES_ONLY_IN_VARS+=('CPU_ARCH')
+EXPORTED_VARIABLES_ONLY_IN_VARS+=('CPU_FAM')
 check_not_exporting_variables() {
     local patterns=()
     local pathspec=()
diff --git a/makefiles/vars.inc.mk b/makefiles/vars.inc.mk
index 135bd81605..263d528e17 100644
--- a/makefiles/vars.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/vars.inc.mk
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ export APPLICATION_MODULE    # The application module name.
 export BOARD                 # The board to compile the application for.
 export CPU                   # The CPU, set by the board's Makefile.features.
 export CPU_MODEL             # The specific identifier of the used CPU, used for some CPU implementations to differentiate between different memory layouts. Set by the board's Makefile.features.
+export CPU_ARCH              # The specific identifier of the core present in the CPU, used currently only for ARM CPU's. Needed for depency resolution.
+export CPU_FAM               # An intermediate identifier between CPU and CPU_MODEL that represents a sub-group of a Manufacturers CPU's.
 export MCU                   # The MCU, set by the board's Makefile.include, or defaulted to the same value as CPU.
 export INCLUDES              # The extra include paths, set by the various Makefile.include files.
 export CXXINCLUDES           # The extra include paths for c++, set by the various Makefile.include files.