diff --git a/sys/ztimer/Kconfig b/sys/ztimer/Kconfig
index 5078457b0c..c788ca8e49 100644
--- a/sys/ztimer/Kconfig
+++ b/sys/ztimer/Kconfig
@@ -74,8 +74,6 @@ config MODULE_ZTIMER_SEC
 choice
     bool "Backend"
     depends on MODULE_ZTIMER_SEC
-    default ZTIMER_SEC_BACKEND_RTC if !BOARD_NATIVE && \
-                                      !HAVE_SHARED_PERIPH_RTT_PERIPH_RTC
     default ZTIMER_SEC_BACKEND_RTT
 
 config ZTIMER_SEC_BACKEND_TIMER
diff --git a/sys/ztimer/Makefile.dep b/sys/ztimer/Makefile.dep
index 787119a9d9..131efa2160 100644
--- a/sys/ztimer/Makefile.dep
+++ b/sys/ztimer/Makefile.dep
@@ -111,24 +111,11 @@ endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter ztimer_sec,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += ztimer
-  # try to use RTC unless we are on native, as it is based on xtimer it is
-  # actually buggy
-  ifeq (,$(filter native,$(BOARD)))
-    FEATURES_OPTIONAL += periph_rtc
-  endif
+  FEATURES_OPTIONAL += periph_rtt
   # HACK: see above
-  include $(RIOTMAKE)/features_check.inc.mk
-  ifneq (,$(filter periph_rtc,$(FEATURES_USED)))
-    USEMODULE += ztimer_periph_rtc
+  ifneq (,$(filter periph_rtt,$(FEATURES_USED)))
+    USEMODULE += ztimer_periph_rtt
   else
-    # if there is no RTC try to use RTT
-    FEATURES_OPTIONAL += periph_rtt
-    # HACK: see above
-    include $(RIOTMAKE)/features_check.inc.mk
-    ifneq (,$(filter periph_rtt,$(FEATURES_USED)))
-      USEMODULE += ztimer_periph_rtt
-    else
-      USEMODULE += ztimer_periph_timer
-    endif
+    USEMODULE += ztimer_periph_timer
   endif
 endif