diff --git a/sys/include/test_utils/interactive_sync.h b/sys/include/test_utils/interactive_sync.h
index b27a571f2d..d5bd8aa015 100644
--- a/sys/include/test_utils/interactive_sync.h
+++ b/sys/include/test_utils/interactive_sync.h
@@ -32,7 +32,11 @@ extern "C" {
  * @details Wait for a 's' character to return
  *
  */
+#ifdef MODULE_TEST_UTILS_INTERACTIVE_SYNC
 void test_utils_interactive_sync(void);
+#else
+static inline void test_utils_interactive_sync(void) {}
+#endif
 
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus