diff --git a/sys/include/xtimer.h b/sys/include/xtimer.h
index 30ecf5cdae..683f1b970d 100644
--- a/sys/include/xtimer.h
+++ b/sys/include/xtimer.h
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@
 #include "ztimer/xtimer_compat.h"
 #else
 
-#ifndef MODULE_XTIMER_ON_ZTIMER
 #include "board.h"
+#ifndef MODULE_XTIMER_ON_ZTIMER
 #include "periph_conf.h"
 #endif