diff --git a/makefiles/utils/test-variables.mk b/makefiles/utils/test-variables.mk
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d0040ff24d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/makefiles/utils/test-variables.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+include variables.mk
+
+# Timestamp in nanoseconds (to be an integer)
+# OSx 'date' does not support 'date +%s%N' so rely on python instead
+# It could be OSx specific but we do not have 'OS' defined here to differentiate
+date_nanoseconds = $(shell python -c 'import time; print(int(time.time() * 1000000000))')
+
+EXPORTED_VARIABLES = MY_VARIABLE CURRENT_TIME
+MY_VARIABLE = my_variable
+# Defered evaluation to the test
+CURRENT_TIME = $(call date_nanoseconds)
+
+$(call target-export-variables,test-exported-variables,$(EXPORTED_VARIABLES))
+test-exported-variables:
+	$(Q)bash -c 'test "$(MY_VARIABLE)" = "$${MY_VARIABLE}" || { echo ERROR: "$(MY_VARIABLE)" != "$${MY_VARIABLE}"; exit 1; }'
+	$(Q)bash -c 'test $(PARSE_TIME) -lt $${CURRENT_TIME} || { echo ERROR: $(PARSE_TIME) \>= $${CURRENT_TIME} >&2; exit 1; }'
+
+# Immediate evaluation for comparing
+PARSE_TIME := $(call date_nanoseconds)
diff --git a/makefiles/utils/variables.mk b/makefiles/utils/variables.mk
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6d02061ae8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/makefiles/utils/variables.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Utilities to set variables and environment for targets
+# These functions should help replacing immediate evaluation and global 'export'
+
+
+# Target specific export the variables for that target
+#
+# target-export-variables <target> <variables>
+#
+# Parameters
+#   target: name of target
+#   variables: the variables to export
+#
+# The variable will only be evaluated when executing the target as when
+# doing export
+target-export-variables = $(foreach var,$(2),$(call _target-export-variable,$1,$(var)))
+
+# '$1: export $2' cannot be used alone
+# By using '?=' the variable is evaluated at runtime only
+_target-export-variable = $(eval $1: export $2?=)
diff --git a/tests/build_system_utils/Makefile b/tests/build_system_utils/Makefile
index 2be3981c8e..22e4af7d2a 100644
--- a/tests/build_system_utils/Makefile
+++ b/tests/build_system_utils/Makefile
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ endef
 
 MAKEFILES_UTILS = $(RIOTMAKE)/utils
 
-COMPILE_TESTS = test-ensure_value test-ensure_value-negative
+COMPILE_TESTS += test-ensure_value test-ensure_value-negative
+COMPILE_TESTS += test-exported-variables
 
 # Tests will be run both in the host machine and in `docker`
 all: build-system-utils-tests
@@ -31,3 +32,6 @@ test-ensure_value:
 
 test-ensure_value-negative:
 	$(Q)$(call command_should_fail,"$(MAKE)" -C $(MAKEFILES_UTILS) -f test-checks.mk test-ensure_value-negative)
+
+test-exported-variables:
+	$(Q)$(call command_should_succeed,"$(MAKE)" -C $(MAKEFILES_UTILS) -f test-variables.mk test-exported-variables)