diff --git a/cpu/nrf51/Makefile.dep b/cpu/nrf51/Makefile.dep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..56c2263f7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cpu/nrf51/Makefile.dep
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+include $(RIOTCPU)/nrf5x_common/Makefile.dep
diff --git a/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.dep b/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.dep
index d5e4d42993..cbf9f0708b 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.dep
+++ b/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.dep
@@ -4,3 +4,5 @@ ifneq (,$(filter nrf802154,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += luid
   USEMODULE += netdev_ieee802154
 endif
+
+include $(RIOTCPU)/nrf5x_common/Makefile.dep
diff --git a/cpu/nrf5x_common/Makefile.dep b/cpu/nrf5x_common/Makefile.dep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ae1319e836
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cpu/nrf5x_common/Makefile.dep
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# include nrf5x common periph drivers
+USEMODULE += nrf5x_common_periph
+
+# link common cpu code
+USEMODULE += cpu_common
diff --git a/cpu/nrf5x_common/Makefile.include b/cpu/nrf5x_common/Makefile.include
index 9dc47f49b0..c4b3dec388 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf5x_common/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/nrf5x_common/Makefile.include
@@ -1,9 +1,3 @@
 CFLAGS += -DCPU_FAM_$(call uppercase_and_underscore,$(CPU_FAM))
 
-# include nrf5x common periph drivers
-USEMODULE += nrf5x_common_periph
-
-# link common cpu code
-USEMODULE += cpu_common
-
 INCLUDES += -I$(RIOTCPU)/nrf5x_common/include