diff --git a/drivers/include/pcf857x.h b/drivers/include/pcf857x.h
index 4b270be1e649..c2ce3ba888b2 100644
--- a/drivers/include/pcf857x.h
+++ b/drivers/include/pcf857x.h
@@ -260,10 +260,6 @@ extern "C"
 #include "event.h"
 #endif /* MODULE_PCF857X_IRQ */
 
-#if !IS_USED(MODULE_PCF8574) && !IS_USED(MODULE_PCF8574A) && !IS_USED(MODULE_PCF8575)
-#error "Please provide a list of pcf857x variants used by the application (pcf8574, pcf8574a or pcf8575)"
-#endif
-
 /**
  * @name    PCF857X I2C slave addresses
  *
diff --git a/drivers/pcf857x/pcf857x.c b/drivers/pcf857x/pcf857x.c
index d74c4a8a18e4..a37d21b394b0 100644
--- a/drivers/pcf857x/pcf857x.c
+++ b/drivers/pcf857x/pcf857x.c
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@
 
 #endif /* ENABLE_DEBUG */
 
+#if !IS_USED(MODULE_PCF8574) && !IS_USED(MODULE_PCF8574A) && !IS_USED(MODULE_PCF8575)
+#error "Please provide a list of pcf857x variants used by the application (pcf8574, pcf8574a or pcf8575)"
+#endif
+
 #if IS_USED(MODULE_PCF857X_IRQ_LOW)
 #define PCF857X_EVENT_PRIO EVENT_PRIO_LOWEST
 #elif IS_USED(MODULE_PCF857X_IRQ_MEDIUM)