diff --git a/tests/periph_rtc/Makefile b/tests/periph_rtc/Makefile
index ecb6a6a796..e549720ff4 100644
--- a/tests/periph_rtc/Makefile
+++ b/tests/periph_rtc/Makefile
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ include ../Makefile.tests_common
 
 FEATURES_REQUIRED = periph_rtc
 
+DISABLE_MODULE += periph_init_rtc
+
 USEMODULE += xtimer
 
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
diff --git a/tests/periph_rtc/main.c b/tests/periph_rtc/main.c
index 75b567a3ad..aad6ba42d7 100644
--- a/tests/periph_rtc/main.c
+++ b/tests/periph_rtc/main.c
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@ int main(void)
     printf("This test will display 'Alarm!' every %u seconds for %u times\n",
             PERIOD, REPEAT);
 
+    rtc_init();
+
     /* set RTC */
     print_time("  Setting clock to ", &time);
     rtc_set_time(&time);