diff --git a/cpu/cc2538/periph/i2c.c b/cpu/cc2538/periph/i2c.c
index 177e1e411fd63058e2173dbc8fafee7168d8eb24..98e7ceb0f6563df13575e94b65182f24d32e292b 100644
--- a/cpu/cc2538/periph/i2c.c
+++ b/cpu/cc2538/periph/i2c.c
@@ -36,9 +36,6 @@
 #define ENABLE_DEBUG (0)
 #include "debug.h"
 
-/* guard this file in case no I2C device is defined */
-#if I2C_NUMOF
-
 #ifndef I2C_0_SCL_PIN
 #define I2C_0_SCL_PIN i2c_config[I2C_0].scl_pin
 #endif
@@ -666,5 +663,3 @@ void i2c_poweroff(i2c_t dev)
         SYS_CTRL_DCGCI2C &= ~1; /**< Disable the I2C0 clock. */
     }
 }
-
-#endif /* I2C_NUMOF */