diff --git a/pkg/lvgl/contrib/lvgl.c b/pkg/lvgl/contrib/lvgl.c
index 2245b7f9b3..90e1a2f454 100644
--- a/pkg/lvgl/contrib/lvgl.c
+++ b/pkg/lvgl/contrib/lvgl.c
@@ -30,10 +30,6 @@
 
 #include "screen_dev.h"
 
-#ifndef LVGL_TASK_THREAD_PRIO
-#define LVGL_TASK_THREAD_PRIO       (THREAD_PRIORITY_MAIN + 1)
-#endif
-
 #ifndef LVGL_COLOR_BUF_SIZE
 #define LVGL_COLOR_BUF_SIZE         (LV_HOR_RES_MAX * 5)
 #endif
@@ -50,7 +46,6 @@
 #define LVGL_THREAD_FLAG            (1 << 7)
 #endif
 
-static char _task_thread_stack[THREAD_STACKSIZE_LARGE];
 static kernel_pid_t _task_thread_pid;
 
 static lv_disp_buf_t disp_buf;
@@ -59,30 +54,6 @@ static lv_color_t buf[LVGL_COLOR_BUF_SIZE];
 static screen_dev_t *_screen_dev = NULL;
 
 
-static void *_task_thread(void *arg)
-{
-    (void)arg;
-
-    while (1) {
-        /* Normal operation (no sleep) in < CONFIG_LVGL_INACTIVITY_PERIOD_MS msec
-           inactivity */
-        if (lv_disp_get_inactive_time(NULL) < CONFIG_LVGL_INACTIVITY_PERIOD_MS) {
-            lv_task_handler();
-        }
-        else {
-            /* Block after LVGL_ACTIVITY_PERIOD msec inactivity */
-            thread_flags_wait_one(LVGL_THREAD_FLAG);
-
-            /* trigger an activity so the task handler is called on the next loop */
-            lv_disp_trig_activity(NULL);
-        }
-
-        xtimer_usleep(CONFIG_LVGL_TASK_HANDLER_DELAY_US);
-    }
-
-    return NULL;
-}
-
 static void _disp_map(lv_disp_drv_t *drv, const lv_area_t *area, lv_color_t *color_p)
 {
     if (!_screen_dev->display) {
@@ -154,15 +125,30 @@ void lvgl_init(screen_dev_t *screen_dev)
         lv_indev_drv_register(&indev_drv);
     }
 #endif
-
-    lv_task_handler();
 }
 
-void lvgl_start(void)
+void lvgl_run(void)
 {
-    _task_thread_pid = thread_create(_task_thread_stack, sizeof(_task_thread_stack),
-                                     LVGL_TASK_THREAD_PRIO, THREAD_CREATE_STACKTEST,
-                                     _task_thread, NULL, "_task_thread");
+    _task_thread_pid = thread_getpid();
+
+    lv_task_handler();
+
+    while (1) {
+        /* Normal operation (no sleep) in < CONFIG_LVGL_INACTIVITY_PERIOD_MS msec
+           inactivity */
+        if (lv_disp_get_inactive_time(NULL) < CONFIG_LVGL_INACTIVITY_PERIOD_MS) {
+            lv_task_handler();
+        }
+        else {
+            /* Block after LVGL_ACTIVITY_PERIOD msec inactivity */
+            thread_flags_wait_one(LVGL_THREAD_FLAG);
+
+            /* trigger an activity so the task handler is called on the next loop */
+            lv_disp_trig_activity(NULL);
+        }
+
+        xtimer_usleep(CONFIG_LVGL_TASK_HANDLER_DELAY_US);
+    }
 }
 
 void lvgl_wakeup(void)
diff --git a/pkg/lvgl/include/lvgl_riot.h b/pkg/lvgl/include/lvgl_riot.h
index 7c16cb7879..595e3d3982 100644
--- a/pkg/lvgl/include/lvgl_riot.h
+++ b/pkg/lvgl/include/lvgl_riot.h
@@ -33,9 +33,15 @@ extern "C" {
 void lvgl_init(screen_dev_t *screen_dev);
 
 /**
- * Start the lvgl task handler background thread
-*/
-void lvgl_start(void);
+ * @brief   Run the lvgl task handler
+ *
+ * In order to run the lvgl internal task handler in an endless loop, this
+ * function must be called manually either from the main thread or from a
+ * custom thread.
+ * In case of CONFIG_LVGL_INACTIVITY_PERIOD_MS ms of inactivity, the loop stops
+ * the thread running the lvgl task handler until @ref lvgl_wakeup is called.
+ */
+void lvgl_run(void);
 
 /**
  * @brief   Wakeup lvgl when inactive
diff --git a/tests/pkg_lvgl/main.c b/tests/pkg_lvgl/main.c
index 751f60efb8..44ea287982 100644
--- a/tests/pkg_lvgl/main.c
+++ b/tests/pkg_lvgl/main.c
@@ -111,9 +111,8 @@ void sysmon_create(void)
     info_label = lv_label_create(win, NULL);
     lv_label_set_recolor(info_label, true);
 
-    /* Refresh the chart and label manually at first */
+    /* Create the task used to refresh the chart and label */
     refr_task = lv_task_create(sysmon_task, REFR_TIME, LV_TASK_PRIO_LOW, NULL);
-    sysmon_task(NULL);
 }
 
 int main(void)
@@ -121,10 +120,10 @@ int main(void)
     /* Enable backlight */
     disp_dev_backlight_on();
 
-    lvgl_start();
-
     /* Create the system monitor widget */
     sysmon_create();
 
+    lvgl_run();
+
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/tests/pkg_lvgl_touch/main.c b/tests/pkg_lvgl_touch/main.c
index 0b76ef9edb..acb40e3b58 100644
--- a/tests/pkg_lvgl_touch/main.c
+++ b/tests/pkg_lvgl_touch/main.c
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ int main(void)
     lv_obj_t * label = lv_label_create(btn, NULL);
     lv_label_set_text(label, "Click me");
 
-    lvgl_start();
+    lvgl_run();
 
     return 0;
 }