diff --git a/cpu/stm32_common/include/periph_cpu_common.h b/cpu/stm32_common/include/periph_cpu_common.h
index 367c03c426..94e85f7412 100644
--- a/cpu/stm32_common/include/periph_cpu_common.h
+++ b/cpu/stm32_common/include/periph_cpu_common.h
@@ -186,6 +186,14 @@ typedef struct {
     uint8_t dma_stream;     /**< DMA stream used for TX */
     uint8_t dma_chan;       /**< DMA channel used for TX */
 #endif
+#ifdef UART_USE_HW_FC
+    gpio_t cts_pin;         /**< CTS pin - set to GPIO_UNDEF when not using HW flow control */
+    gpio_t rts_pin;         /**< RTS pin */
+#ifndef CPU_FAM_STM32F1
+    gpio_af_t cts_af;       /**< alternate function for CTS pin */
+    gpio_af_t rts_af;       /**< alternate function for RTS pin */
+#endif
+#endif
 } uart_conf_t;
 
 /**
diff --git a/cpu/stm32_common/periph/uart.c b/cpu/stm32_common/periph/uart.c
index 7444cb3156..ee48f840b7 100644
--- a/cpu/stm32_common/periph/uart.c
+++ b/cpu/stm32_common/periph/uart.c
@@ -72,6 +72,18 @@ int uart_init(uart_t uart, uint32_t baudrate, uart_rx_cb_t rx_cb, void *arg)
         gpio_init_af(uart_config[uart].rx_pin, uart_config[uart].rx_af);
 #endif
     }
+#ifdef UART_USE_HW_FC
+    if (uart_config[uart].cts_pin != GPIO_UNDEF) {
+        gpio_init(uart_config[uart].cts_pin, GPIO_IN);
+        gpio_init(uart_config[uart].rts_pin, GPIO_OUT);
+#ifdef CPU_FAM_STM32F1
+        gpio_init_af(uart_config[uart].rts_pin, GPIO_AF_OUT_PP);
+#else
+        gpio_init_af(uart_config[uart].cts_pin, uart_config[uart].cts_af);
+        gpio_init_af(uart_config[uart].rts_pin, uart_config[uart].rts_af);
+#endif
+    }
+#endif
 
     /* enable the clock */
     periph_clk_en(uart_config[uart].bus, uart_config[uart].rcc_mask);
@@ -96,6 +108,13 @@ int uart_init(uart_t uart, uint32_t baudrate, uart_rx_cb_t rx_cb, void *arg)
         dev(uart)->CR1 = (USART_CR1_UE | USART_CR1_TE);
     }
 
+#ifdef UART_USE_HW_FC
+    if (uart_config[uart].cts_pin != GPIO_UNDEF) {
+        /* configure hardware flow control */
+        dev(uart)->CR3 = (USART_CR3_RTSE | USART_CR3_CTSE);
+    }
+#endif
+
     return UART_OK;
 }