diff --git a/drivers/periph_common/Kconfig b/drivers/periph_common/Kconfig
index 14219ec373..4add675808 100644
--- a/drivers/periph_common/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/periph_common/Kconfig
@@ -28,6 +28,12 @@ config MODULE_PERIPH_INIT_ADC
     default y if MODULE_PERIPH_INIT
     depends on MODULE_PERIPH_ADC
 
+config MODULE_PERIPH_INIT_BUTTONS
+    bool
+    depends on TEST_KCONFIG
+    help
+        Enable auto initialization of on-board buttons
+
 config MODULE_PERIPH_CPUID
     bool "CPU unique ID"
     depends on HAS_PERIPH_CPUID
diff --git a/drivers/periph_common/init.c b/drivers/periph_common/init.c
index 9d88170b72..f547852cf5 100644
--- a/drivers/periph_common/init.c
+++ b/drivers/periph_common/init.c
@@ -63,6 +63,11 @@ void periph_init(void)
         extern void led_init(void);
         led_init();
     }
+    /* initialize buttonss */
+    if (IS_USED(MODULE_PERIPH_INIT_BUTTONS)) {
+        extern void button_init(void);
+        button_init();
+    }
     /* initialize configured I2C devices */
 #ifdef MODULE_PERIPH_INIT_I2C
     for (unsigned i = 0; i < I2C_NUMOF; i++) {
diff --git a/drivers/periph_common/init_buttons.c b/drivers/periph_common/init_buttons.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1a2b85cfe5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/drivers/periph_common/init_buttons.c
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2022 ML!PA Consulting GmbH
+ *
+ * This file is subject to the terms and conditions of the GNU Lesser
+ * General Public License v2.1. See the file LICENSE in the top level
+ * directory for more details.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * @ingroup     drivers_periph_init
+ * @{
+ *
+ * @file
+ * @brief       Init on board Buttons as input
+ *
+ * @author      Benjamin Valentin <benjamin.valentin@ml-pa.com>
+ * @}
+ */
+
+#include "board.h"
+#include "periph/gpio.h"
+#include "kernel_defines.h"
+
+__attribute__ ((weak))
+void button_init(void)
+{
+    if (!IS_USED(MODULE_PERIPH_GPIO)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+#ifdef BTN0_PIN
+    gpio_init(BTN0_PIN, BTN0_MODE);
+#endif
+#ifdef BTN1_PIN
+    gpio_init(BTN1_PIN, BTN1_MODE);
+#endif
+#ifdef BTN2_PIN
+    gpio_init(BTN2_PIN, BTN2_MODE);
+#endif
+#ifdef BTN3_PIN
+    gpio_init(BTN3_PIN, BTN3_MODE);
+#endif
+#ifdef BTN4_PIN
+    gpio_init(BTN4_PIN, BTN4_MODE);
+#endif
+#ifdef BTN5_PIN
+    gpio_init(BTN5_PIN, BTN5_MODE);
+#endif
+#ifdef BTN6_PIN
+    gpio_init(BTN6_PIN, BTN6_MODE);
+#endif
+#ifdef BTN7_PIN
+    gpio_init(BTN7_PIN, BTN7_MODE);
+#endif
+}