diff --git a/cpu/msp430_common/Kconfig b/cpu/msp430_common/Kconfig
index cbdf20e7d4..4a598fdb21 100644
--- a/cpu/msp430_common/Kconfig
+++ b/cpu/msp430_common/Kconfig
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ config CPU_ARCH_MSP430
     select HAS_PERIPH_FLASHPAGE
     select HAS_PERIPH_FLASHPAGE_PAGEWISE
     select HAS_PERIPH_PM
+    select MODULE_MALLOC_THREAD_SAFE if TEST_KCONFIG
 
 config CPU_CORE_MSP430
     bool
diff --git a/cpu/msp430_common/Makefile.dep b/cpu/msp430_common/Makefile.dep
index 8f533012bf..54590f7a88 100644
--- a/cpu/msp430_common/Makefile.dep
+++ b/cpu/msp430_common/Makefile.dep
@@ -6,3 +6,6 @@ DEFAULT_MODULE += newlib
 ifneq (,$(filter newlib,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += newlib_nano
 endif
+
+# Make calls to malloc and friends thread-safe
+USEMODULE += malloc_thread_safe