diff --git a/tests/ztimer_msg/Makefile b/tests/ztimer_msg/Makefile
index e198e2c38e..7289b23ccd 100644
--- a/tests/ztimer_msg/Makefile
+++ b/tests/ztimer_msg/Makefile
@@ -5,4 +5,7 @@ USEMODULE += ztimer_usec
 # uncomment this to test using ztimer msec on rtt
 #USEMODULE += ztimer_msec ztimer_periph_rtt
 
+# uncomment this to test using ztimer sec on rtc
+#USEMODULE += ztimer_sec ztimer_periph_rtc
+
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
diff --git a/tests/ztimer_msg/main.c b/tests/ztimer_msg/main.c
index f4bbf1fce8..24e52a0bcb 100644
--- a/tests/ztimer_msg/main.c
+++ b/tests/ztimer_msg/main.c
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@
 
 #include "test_utils/expect.h"
 
-#ifdef MODULE_ZTIMER_MSEC
+#ifdef MODULE_ZTIMER_SEC
+#define ZTIMER ZTIMER_SEC
+#define TICKS_PER_SEC 1
+#elif MODULE_ZTIMER_MSEC
 #define ZTIMER ZTIMER_MSEC
 #define TICKS_PER_SEC MS_PER_SEC
 #else
@@ -71,11 +74,14 @@ void *timer_thread(void *arg)
         msg_receive(&m);
         struct timer_msg *tmsg = m.content.ptr;
         uint32_t now = ztimer_now(ZTIMER);
-        printf("now=%lu:%lu -> every %lu.%lus: %s\n",
-               (now / TICKS_PER_SEC),
-               (now % TICKS_PER_SEC),
-               tmsg->interval / TICKS_PER_SEC,
-               tmsg->interval % TICKS_PER_SEC,
+        /* casts are needed to solve for sometimes TICKS_PER_SEC being UL
+         * result of / and % of uint32_t will always fit into uint32_t
+         */
+        printf("now=%"PRIu32":%"PRIu32" -> every %"PRIu32".%"PRIu32"s: %s\n",
+               (uint32_t)(now / TICKS_PER_SEC),
+               (uint32_t)(now % TICKS_PER_SEC),
+               (uint32_t)(tmsg->interval / TICKS_PER_SEC),
+               (uint32_t)(tmsg->interval % TICKS_PER_SEC),
                tmsg->text);
 
         tmsg->msg.type = 12345;