diff --git a/Makefile.dep b/Makefile.dep
index 5dece5690e..6b1c2ef220 100644
--- a/Makefile.dep
+++ b/Makefile.dep
@@ -69,11 +69,6 @@ ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_mac,$(USEMODULE)))
   endif
 endif
 
-# Don't register netdevs if there is only a single one  of them
-ifeq (,$(filter gnrc_netif_single,$(USEMODULE)))
-  USEMODULE += netdev_register
-endif
-
 ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_gomach,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += gnrc_netif
   USEMODULE += gnrc_nettype_gomach
diff --git a/drivers/Makefile.dep b/drivers/Makefile.dep
index 6c67043de5..5000976fb3 100644
--- a/drivers/Makefile.dep
+++ b/drivers/Makefile.dep
@@ -143,4 +143,8 @@ endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter netdev_%,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += netdev
+  # Don't register netdevs if there is only a single one of them
+  ifeq (,$(filter gnrc_netif_single,$(USEMODULE)))
+    USEMODULE += netdev_register
+  endif
 endif