diff --git a/cpu/arm7_common/Kconfig b/cpu/arm7_common/Kconfig
index edc4337c63..f8fbd5a2dc 100644
--- a/cpu/arm7_common/Kconfig
+++ b/cpu/arm7_common/Kconfig
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ config CPU_ARCH_ARMV4T
     select HAS_ARCH_ARM
     select HAS_CPP
     select HAS_LIBSTDCPP
+    select MODULE_MALLOC_THREAD_SAFE if TEST_KCONFIG
 
 config CPU_CORE_ARM7TDMI_S
     bool
diff --git a/cpu/arm7_common/Makefile.dep b/cpu/arm7_common/Makefile.dep
index fabfff3190..48998943d9 100644
--- a/cpu/arm7_common/Makefile.dep
+++ b/cpu/arm7_common/Makefile.dep
@@ -10,3 +10,6 @@ else
   # use the nano-specs of Newlib when available
   USEMODULE += newlib_nano
 endif
+
+# Make calls to malloc and friends thread-safe
+USEMODULE += malloc_thread_safe