diff --git a/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile b/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile
index 28b1f0fa94..30fdec09ef 100644
--- a/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile
+++ b/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile
@@ -13,17 +13,13 @@ BOARD_BLACKLIST += pic32-wifire pic32-clicker ruuvitag thingy52
 # use ethos (ethernet over serial) for network communication and stdio over
 # UART, but not on native, as native has a tap interface towards the host.
 ifeq (,$(filter native,$(BOARD)))
-  GNRC_NETIF_NUMOF := 2
-  USEMODULE += stdio_ethos
-
   # ethos baudrate can be configured from make command
   ETHOS_BAUDRATE ?= 115200
   CFLAGS += -DETHOS_BAUDRATE=$(ETHOS_BAUDRATE)
 else
-  GNRC_NETIF_NUMOF := 2
   TERMFLAGS += -z [::1]:17754
-  USEMODULE += socket_zep
 endif
+GNRC_NETIF_NUMOF := 2
 
 # SLIP legacy compatibility
 # Uncomment the lines below if you want to use SLIP with this example and don't
diff --git a/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile.board.dep b/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile.board.dep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..56cdaf5ed9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile.board.dep
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Put board specific dependencies here
+ifeq (,$(filter native,$(BOARD)))
+  USEMODULE += stdio_ethos
+else
+  USEMODULE += socket_zep
+endif