diff --git a/cpu/atmega_common/Makefile.dep b/cpu/atmega_common/Makefile.dep
index cafee551b8..598572cee5 100644
--- a/cpu/atmega_common/Makefile.dep
+++ b/cpu/atmega_common/Makefile.dep
@@ -7,8 +7,10 @@ USEMODULE += atmega_common
 # peripheral drivers are linked into the final binary
 USEMODULE += atmega_common_periph
 
-# the atmel port uses stdio_uart
-USEMODULE += stdio_uart
+# the atmel port uses stdio_uart by default
+ifeq (,$(filter stdio_% slipdev_stdio,$(USEMODULE)))
+  USEMODULE += stdio_uart
+endif
 
 # expand atmega_pcint module
 ifneq (,$(filter atmega_pcint,$(USEMODULE)))