diff --git a/Makefile.dep b/Makefile.dep
index 1339dbca5c..d609942a46 100644
--- a/Makefile.dep
+++ b/Makefile.dep
@@ -633,7 +633,7 @@ endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter arduino,$(USEMODULE)))
   FEATURES_REQUIRED += arduino
-  FEATURES_REQUIRED += periph_adc
+  FEATURES_OPTIONAL += periph_adc
   FEATURES_REQUIRED += periph_gpio
   USEMODULE += xtimer
 endif
diff --git a/sys/arduino/base.cpp b/sys/arduino/base.cpp
index 8ead5b88cd..5faa6463df 100644
--- a/sys/arduino/base.cpp
+++ b/sys/arduino/base.cpp
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ unsigned long millis()
     return xtimer_now_usec64() / US_PER_MS;
 }
 
+#if MODULE_PERIPH_ADC
 int analogRead(int arduino_pin)
 {
     /*
@@ -104,3 +105,4 @@ int analogRead(int arduino_pin)
 
     return adc_value;
 }
+#endif
diff --git a/sys/arduino/include/arduino.hpp b/sys/arduino/include/arduino.hpp
index 109c43497f..536f7fbbf8 100644
--- a/sys/arduino/include/arduino.hpp
+++ b/sys/arduino/include/arduino.hpp
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ unsigned long micros();
  */
 unsigned long millis();
 
+#if MODULE_PERIPH_ADC || DOXYGEN
 /**
  * @brief   Read the current value of the given analog pin
  *
@@ -119,6 +120,7 @@ unsigned long millis();
  * to the voltage applied to the pin
  */
 int analogRead(int pin);
+#endif
 
 #endif /* ARDUINO_H */
 /** @} */