diff --git a/cpu/esp8266/Makefile.include b/cpu/esp8266/Makefile.include
index a22fd67e1e..43f185b040 100644
--- a/cpu/esp8266/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/esp8266/Makefile.include
@@ -58,6 +58,10 @@ ifneq (,$(filter log_color,$(USEMODULE)))
     USEMODULE += esp_log_colored
 endif
 
+ifneq (,$(filter 4 5,$(LOG_LEVEL)))
+  USEMODULE += esp_log_startup
+endif
+
 # regular Makefile
 
 export TARGET_ARCH ?= xtensa-esp8266-elf