diff --git a/cpu/arm7tdmi_gba/Makefile.default b/cpu/arm7tdmi_gba/Makefile.default
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..fcd9a7493a7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cpu/arm7tdmi_gba/Makefile.default
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+DISABLE_MODULE += periph_init_leds
+DISABLE_MODULE += core_thread
diff --git a/cpu/arm7tdmi_gba/Makefile.dep b/cpu/arm7tdmi_gba/Makefile.dep
index 9a65e9ab36a5..51481f9a8373 100644
--- a/cpu/arm7tdmi_gba/Makefile.dep
+++ b/cpu/arm7tdmi_gba/Makefile.dep
@@ -4,6 +4,4 @@ ifeq (,$(filter stdio_%,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += stdio_fb
 endif
 
-DISABLE_MODULE += periph_init_leds
-
 include $(RIOTCPU)/arm7_common/Makefile.dep