diff --git a/sys/Makefile.dep b/sys/Makefile.dep
index 50112e29f3..a5a10a8e27 100644
--- a/sys/Makefile.dep
+++ b/sys/Makefile.dep
@@ -690,6 +690,7 @@ endif
 ifneq (,$(filter riotboot_usb_dfu, $(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += usbus_dfu
   USEMODULE += riotboot_flashwrite
+  USEMODULE += ztimer_sec
   FEATURES_REQUIRED += no_idle_thread
   FEATURES_REQUIRED += periph_pm
 endif