diff --git a/sys/Makefile.dep b/sys/Makefile.dep
index b65283db01..3dcb2e180c 100644
--- a/sys/Makefile.dep
+++ b/sys/Makefile.dep
@@ -389,10 +389,6 @@ ifneq (,$(filter senml_%,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += senml
 endif
 
-ifneq (,$(filter phydat,$(USEMODULE)))
-  USEMODULE += fmt
-endif
-
 ifneq (,$(filter pm_layered,$(USEMODULE)))
   FEATURES_REQUIRED += periph_pm
 endif
diff --git a/sys/phydat/Makefile.dep b/sys/phydat/Makefile.dep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8e78f49e35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sys/phydat/Makefile.dep
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+USEMODULE += fmt