diff --git a/tests/pkg/edhoc_c/Makefile b/tests/pkg/edhoc_c/Makefile
index 901f28c92defc..b2aed7a210b41 100644
--- a/tests/pkg/edhoc_c/Makefile
+++ b/tests/pkg/edhoc_c/Makefile
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ USEMODULE += sock_udp
 # Additional networking modules that can be dropped if not needed
 USEMODULE += gnrc_icmpv6_echo
 USEMODULE += nanocoap_sock
-USEMODULE += nanocoap_resources
 
 # include this for printing IP addresses
 USEMODULE += shell_cmds_default
@@ -44,5 +43,11 @@ CFLAGS += -DCONFIG_INITIATOR=$(CONFIG_INITIATOR)
 CONFIG_RESPONDER ?= 1
 CFLAGS += -DCONFIG_RESPONDER=$(CONFIG_RESPONDER)
 
+
+ifeq (1, $(CONFIG_RESPONDER))
+  USEMODULE += nanocoap_server_auto_init
+  CFLAGS += -DCONFIG_NANOCOAP_SERVER_BUF_SIZE=512
+endif
+
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/default-radio-settings.inc.mk
diff --git a/tests/pkg/edhoc_c/main.c b/tests/pkg/edhoc_c/main.c
index fa478b43bbae1..a87583a6e1c67 100644
--- a/tests/pkg/edhoc_c/main.c
+++ b/tests/pkg/edhoc_c/main.c
@@ -30,10 +30,6 @@
 static msg_t _main_msg_queue[MAIN_QUEUE_SIZE];
 
 #if IS_ACTIVE(CONFIG_RESPONDER)
-static char _nanocoap_server_stack[THREAD_STACKSIZE_MAIN];
-#define NANOCOAP_SERVER_QUEUE_SIZE     (4)
-static msg_t _nanocoap_server_msg_queue[NANOCOAP_SERVER_QUEUE_SIZE];
-#define NANOCOAP_BUF_SIZE   (512U)
 extern int responder_cli_init(void);
 extern int responder_cmd(int argc, char **argv);
 #endif
@@ -54,23 +50,6 @@ static const shell_command_t shell_commands[] = {
     { NULL, NULL, NULL }
 };
 
-#if IS_ACTIVE(CONFIG_RESPONDER)
-static void *_nanocoap_server_thread(void *arg)
-{
-    (void)arg;
-
-    /* nanocoap_server uses gnrc sock which uses gnrc which needs a msg queue */
-    msg_init_queue(_nanocoap_server_msg_queue, NANOCOAP_SERVER_QUEUE_SIZE);
-
-    /* initialize nanocoap server instance */
-    uint8_t buf[NANOCOAP_BUF_SIZE];
-    sock_udp_ep_t local = { .port = COAP_PORT, .family = AF_INET6 };
-    nanocoap_server(&local, buf, sizeof(buf));
-
-    return NULL;
-}
-#endif
-
 int main(void)
 {
 #if IS_ACTIVE(CONFIG_INITIATOR)
@@ -82,12 +61,6 @@ int main(void)
     if (responder_cli_init()) {
         return -1;
     }
-
-    /* start nanocoap server thread */
-    thread_create(_nanocoap_server_stack, sizeof(_nanocoap_server_stack),
-                  THREAD_PRIORITY_MAIN - 1,
-                  THREAD_CREATE_STACKTEST,
-                  _nanocoap_server_thread, NULL, "nanocoap server");
 #endif
 
     /* the shell contains commands that receive packets via GNRC and thus