diff --git a/sys/Makefile.dep b/sys/Makefile.dep
index 76a87bcdc2..57081a04da 100644
--- a/sys/Makefile.dep
+++ b/sys/Makefile.dep
@@ -590,10 +590,6 @@ ifneq (,$(filter nanocoap_%,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += nanocoap
 endif
 
-ifneq (,$(filter benchmark,$(USEMODULE)))
-  USEMODULE += ztimer_usec
-endif
-
 ifneq (,$(filter skald_%,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += skald
 endif
diff --git a/sys/benchmark/Makefile.dep b/sys/benchmark/Makefile.dep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c2e142790d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sys/benchmark/Makefile.dep
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+USEMODULE += ztimer_usec