diff --git a/Makefile.dep b/Makefile.dep
index 4809a88733..85dc6626fd 100644
--- a/Makefile.dep
+++ b/Makefile.dep
@@ -720,7 +720,6 @@ ifneq (,$(filter can_linux,$(USEMODULE)))
 endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter can,$(USEMODULE)))
-  DEFAULT_MODULE += auto_init_can
   USEMODULE += can_raw
   ifneq (,$(filter can_mbox,$(USEMODULE)))
     USEMODULE += core_mbox
diff --git a/tests/conn_can/Makefile b/tests/conn_can/Makefile
index cd3b4ef945..8ecd245352 100644
--- a/tests/conn_can/Makefile
+++ b/tests/conn_can/Makefile
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ USEMODULE += can_isotp
 USEMODULE += conn_can_isotp_multi
 USEMODULE += can_pm
 USEMODULE += can_trx
+USEMODULE += auto_init_can
 
 CFLAGS += -DGNRC_PKTBUF_SIZE=4096
 CFLAGS += -DCAN_PKT_BUF_SIZE=64