diff --git a/Makefile.dep b/Makefile.dep
index b975ef26121e97b83dfdb6f93740f72e8db9e23d..a9d163547b7a1217019b4e8bc3142a67e1d91cfd 100644
--- a/Makefile.dep
+++ b/Makefile.dep
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_rpl,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += vtimer
 endif
 
+ifneq (,$(filter trickle,$(USEMODULE)))
+  USEMODULE += xtimer
+endif
+
 ifneq (,$(filter ieee802154,$(USEMODULE)))
   ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_ipv6, $(USEMODULE)))
     USEMODULE += gnrc_sixlowpan