diff --git a/sys/include/xtimer/implementation.h b/sys/include/xtimer/implementation.h
index ed16aa91ad..10baf7c5d3 100644
--- a/sys/include/xtimer/implementation.h
+++ b/sys/include/xtimer/implementation.h
@@ -65,7 +65,21 @@ static inline uint32_t _xtimer_lltimer_mask(uint32_t val)
  * @brief xtimer internal stuff
  * @internal
  */
+
 uint64_t _xtimer_now64(void);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Sets the timer to the appropriate timer_list or list_head.
+ *
+ * @note    The target to set the timer to has to be at least bigger then the
+ *          ticks needed to jump into the function and calculate '_xtimer_now()'.
+ *          So that 'now' did not pass the target.
+ *          This is crucial when using low CPU frequencies and/or when the
+ *          '_xtimer_now()' call needs multiple xtimer ticks to evaluate.
+ *
+ * @param[in] timer   pointer to xtimer_t which is added to the list.
+ * @param[in] target  Absolute target value in ticks.
+ */
 int _xtimer_set_absolute(xtimer_t *timer, uint32_t target);
 void _xtimer_set(xtimer_t *timer, uint32_t offset);
 void _xtimer_set64(xtimer_t *timer, uint32_t offset, uint32_t long_offset);
diff --git a/sys/xtimer/xtimer_core.c b/sys/xtimer/xtimer_core.c
index 5423eee1d2..8411558399 100644
--- a/sys/xtimer/xtimer_core.c
+++ b/sys/xtimer/xtimer_core.c
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 /**
  * Copyright (C) 2015 Kaspar Schleiser <kaspar@schleiser.de>
- * Copyright (C) 2016 Eistec AB
+ *               2016 Eistec AB
+ *               2018 Josua Arndt
  *
  * This file is subject to the terms and conditions of the GNU Lesser
  * General Public License v2.1. See the file LICENSE in the top level
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@
  * @brief xtimer core functionality
  * @author Kaspar Schleiser <kaspar@schleiser.de>
  * @author Joakim Nohlgård <joakim.nohlgard@eistec.se>
+ * @author Josua Arndt <jarndt@ias.rwth-aachen.de>
  * @}
  */
 
@@ -178,12 +180,27 @@ int _xtimer_set_absolute(xtimer_t *timer, uint32_t target)
     uint32_t now = _xtimer_now();
     int res = 0;
 
-    DEBUG("timer_set_absolute(): now=%" PRIu32 " target=%" PRIu32 "\n", now, target);
-
     timer->next = NULL;
-    if ((target >= now) && ((target - XTIMER_BACKOFF) < now)) {
+
+    /* Ensure that offset is bigger than 'XTIMER_BACKOFF',
+     * 'target - now' will allways be the offset no matter if target < or > now.
+     *
+     * This expects that target was not set too close to now and overrun now, so
+     * from setting target up until the call of '_xtimer_now()' above now has not
+     * become equal or bigger than target.
+     * This is crucial when using low CPU frequencies so reaching the '_xtimer_now()'
+     * call needs multiple xtimer ticks.
+     *
+     * '_xtimer_set()' and `_xtimer_periodic_wakeup()` ensure this by already
+     * backing off for small values. */
+    uint32_t offset = (target - now);
+
+    DEBUG("timer_set_absolute(): now=%" PRIu32 " target=%" PRIu32 " offset=%" PRIu32 "\n",
+          now, target, offset);
+
+    if (offset <= XTIMER_BACKOFF) {
         /* backoff */
-        xtimer_spin_until(target + XTIMER_BACKOFF);
+        xtimer_spin_until(target);
         _shoot(timer);
         return 0;
     }
@@ -195,6 +212,17 @@ int _xtimer_set_absolute(xtimer_t *timer, uint32_t target)
 
     timer->target = target;
     timer->long_target = _long_cnt;
+
+    /* Ensure timer is fired in right timer period.
+     * Backoff condition above ensures that 'target - XTIMER_OVERHEAD` is later
+     * than 'now', also for values when now will overflow and the value of target
+     * is smaller then now.
+     * If `target < XTIMER_OVERHEAD` the new target will be at the end of this
+     * 32bit period, as `target - XTIMER_OVERHEAD` is a big number instead of a
+     * small at the beginning of the next period. */
+    target = target - XTIMER_OVERHEAD;
+
+    /* 32 bit target overflow, target is in next 32bit period */
     if (target < now) {
         timer->long_target++;
     }
@@ -214,7 +242,7 @@ int _xtimer_set_absolute(xtimer_t *timer, uint32_t target)
 
             if (timer_list_head == timer) {
                 DEBUG("timer_set_absolute(): timer is new list head. updating lltimer.\n");
-                _lltimer_set(target - XTIMER_OVERHEAD);
+                _lltimer_set(target);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -493,10 +521,14 @@ overflow:
      * time to overflow.  In that case we advance to
      * next timer period and check again for expired
      * timers.*/
-    if (reference > _xtimer_lltimer_now()) {
+    /* check if the end of this period is very soon */
+    uint32_t now = _xtimer_lltimer_now() + XTIMER_ISR_BACKOFF;
+    if (now < reference) {
         DEBUG("_timer_callback: overflowed while executing callbacks. %i\n",
               timer_list_head != NULL);
         _next_period();
+        /* wait till overflow */
+        while( reference < _xtimer_lltimer_now()){}
         reference = 0;
         goto overflow;
     }
@@ -506,7 +538,7 @@ overflow:
         next_target = timer_list_head->target - XTIMER_OVERHEAD;
 
         /* make sure we're not setting a time in the past */
-        if (next_target < (_xtimer_lltimer_now() + XTIMER_ISR_BACKOFF)) {
+        if (next_target < (_xtimer_now() + XTIMER_ISR_BACKOFF)) {
             goto overflow;
         }
     }