diff --git a/Makefile.base b/Makefile.base
index 5174119c0978..e70ea91852a7 100644
--- a/Makefile.base
+++ b/Makefile.base
@@ -9,7 +9,13 @@ MODULE ?= $(shell basename $(CURDIR))
 
 .PHONY: all clean $(DIRS:%=ALL--%) $(DIRS:%=CLEAN--%)
 
+# Build a static library if the current module is listed in LIBS
+ifneq (,$(filter $(MODULE),$(LIBS)))
 all: $(BINDIR)/$(MODULE).a ..nothing
+else
+# .. otherwise, build a monolithic object file
+all: $(BINDIR)/$(MODULE).o ..nothing
+endif
 
 ..nothing:
 	@:
@@ -65,6 +71,18 @@ DEP := $(OBJC:.o=.d) $(OBJCXX:.o=.d) $(ASSMOBJ:.o=.d)
 $(BINDIR)/$(MODULE)/:
 	$(Q)mkdir -p $@
 
+$(BINDIR)/$(MODULE).o $(OBJ): | $(BINDIR)/$(MODULE)/
+
+# An empty object file is included in the link to avoid situations where modules
+# do not provide any code (e.g. sys, some boards), causing the build to fail
+# with a missing object file.
+EMPTYOBJ = $(BINDIR)/$(MODULE)/.empty.o
+$(EMPTYOBJ): | $(BINDIR)/$(MODULE)/
+	$(Q)$(CC) $(CFLAGS) -Wno-pedantic -xc -o $@ -c - < /dev/null
+
+$(BINDIR)/$(MODULE).o: $(OBJ) $(EMPTYOBJ) | ${DIRS:%=ALL--%}
+	$(Q)$(ILINK) $(ILINKFLAGS) -o $@ $^
+
 $(BINDIR)/$(MODULE).a $(OBJ): | $(BINDIR)/$(MODULE)/
 
 $(BINDIR)/$(MODULE).a: $(OBJ) | $(DIRS:%=ALL--%)
diff --git a/Makefile.dep b/Makefile.dep
index f89090bbb578..b916005ff984 100644
--- a/Makefile.dep
+++ b/Makefile.dep
@@ -398,7 +398,14 @@ endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter stdio_uart,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += isrpipe
-  FEATURES_REQUIRED += periph_uart
+  ifneq (,$(filter newlib_syscalls_mips_uhi,$(USEMODULE)))
+    # The periph_uart driver is optional when using MIPS UHI syscalls (debug
+    # UART is used on PIC32 boards, but not on mips-malta)
+    FEATURES_OPTIONAL += periph_uart
+  else
+    # All other UART implementations require the periph_uart driver.
+    FEATURES_REQUIRED += periph_uart
+  endif
 endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter isrpipe,$(USEMODULE)))
@@ -562,6 +569,10 @@ ifneq (,$(filter pthread,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += timex
 endif
 
+ifneq (,$(filter pthread_tls,$(USEMODULE)))
+  USEMODULE += pthread
+endif
+
 ifneq (,$(filter schedstatistics,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += xtimer
 endif
diff --git a/Makefile.include b/Makefile.include
index 9c45a7440fd0..163ad617b287 100644
--- a/Makefile.include
+++ b/Makefile.include
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ endif
 APPLICATION_MODULE ?= application_$(APPLICATION)
 
 # the binaries to link
-BASELIBS += $(BINDIR)/$(APPLICATION_MODULE).a
+BASELIBS += $(BINDIR)/$(APPLICATION_MODULE).o
 BASELIBS += $(APPDEPS)
 
 
@@ -437,9 +437,9 @@ _BASELIBS_VALUE_BEFORE_USAGE := $(BASELIBS)
 # Linker rule
 $(ELFFILE): FORCE
 ifeq ($(BUILDOSXNATIVE),1)
-  _LINK = $(if $(CPPMIX),$(LINKXX),$(LINK)) $(UNDEF) $$(find $(BASELIBS) -size +8c) $(LINKFLAGS) $(LINKFLAGPREFIX)-no_pie
+  _LINK = $(if $(CPPMIX),$(LINKXX),$(LINK)) $$(find $(BASELIBS) -size +8c) $(LINKFLAGS) $(LINKFLAGPREFIX)-no_pie
 else
-  _LINK = $(if $(CPPMIX),$(LINKXX),$(LINK)) $(UNDEF) $(LINKFLAGPREFIX)--start-group $(BASELIBS) -lm $(LINKFLAGPREFIX)--end-group $(LINKFLAGS) $(LINKFLAGPREFIX)-Map=$(BINDIR)/$(APPLICATION).map
+  _LINK = $(if $(CPPMIX),$(LINKXX),$(LINK)) $(LINKFLAGPREFIX)--start-group $(BASELIBS) -lm $(LINKFLAGPREFIX)--end-group $(LINKFLAGS) $(LINKFLAGPREFIX)-Map=$(BINDIR)/$(APPLICATION).map
 endif # BUILDOSXNATIVE
 
 # include bootloaders support. When trying to overwrite one variable
@@ -459,13 +459,13 @@ endif # RIOTNOLINK
 $(ELFFILE): $(BASELIBS)
 	$(Q)$(_LINK) -o $@
 
-$(BINDIR)/$(APPLICATION_MODULE).a: pkg-build $(BUILDDEPS)
+$(BINDIR)/$(APPLICATION_MODULE).o: pkg-build $(BUILDDEPS)
 	$(Q)DIRS="$(DIRS)" "$(MAKE)" -C $(APPDIR) -f $(RIOTMAKE)/application.inc.mk
-$(BINDIR)/$(APPLICATION_MODULE).a: FORCE
+$(BINDIR)/$(APPLICATION_MODULE).o: FORCE
 
 # Other modules are built by application.inc.mk and packages building
-_SUBMAKE_LIBS = $(filter-out $(BINDIR)/$(APPLICATION_MODULE).a $(APPDEPS), $(BASELIBS))
-$(_SUBMAKE_LIBS): $(BINDIR)/$(APPLICATION_MODULE).a pkg-build
+_SUBMAKE_LIBS = $(filter-out $(BINDIR)/$(APPLICATION_MODULE).o $(APPDEPS), $(BASELIBS))
+$(_SUBMAKE_LIBS): $(BINDIR)/$(APPLICATION_MODULE).o pkg-build
 
 # 'print-size' triggers a rebuild. Use 'info-buildsize' if you do not need to rebuild.
 print-size: $(ELFFILE)
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ clean:
 # Remove intermediates, but keep the .elf, .hex and .map etc.
 clean-intermediates:
 	-@for i in $(USEPKG) ; do "$(MAKE)" -C $(RIOTPKG)/$$i distclean ; done
-	-@rm -rf $(BINDIR)/*.a $(BINDIR)/*/
+	-@rm -rf $(BINDIR)/*.o $(BINDIR)/*.a $(BINDIR)/*/
 
 clean-pkg:
 	-@for i in $(USEPKG) ; do "$(MAKE)" -C $(RIOTPKG)/$$i distclean ; done
diff --git a/boards/common/msba2/Makefile.include b/boards/common/msba2/Makefile.include
index db624de2b4ed..a3515e739df2 100644
--- a/boards/common/msba2/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/common/msba2/Makefile.include
@@ -28,5 +28,3 @@ USEMODULE += newlib_nano
 FFLAGS = $(PORT) $(HEXFILE)
 
 INCLUDES += -I$(RIOTBOARD)/common/msba2/include
-
-export UNDEF += $(BINDIR)/cpu/startup.o
diff --git a/boards/native/Makefile.include b/boards/native/Makefile.include
index 974effb34116..767cd55cb029 100644
--- a/boards/native/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/native/Makefile.include
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ export CXXEXFLAGS +=
 
 ifeq ($(shell uname -m),x86_64)
   export LINKFLAGS += -m32
+  export ILINKFLAGS += -r -m elf_i386 --unique
 endif
 ifeq ($(shell uname -s),FreeBSD)
   ifeq ($(shell uname -m),amd64)
@@ -187,5 +188,3 @@ eval-gprof:
 
 eval-cachegrind:
 	$(CGANNOTATE) $(shell ls -rt cachegrind.out* | tail -1)
-
-export UNDEF += $(BINDIR)/cpu/startup.o
diff --git a/cpu/atmega1281/Makefile.include b/cpu/atmega1281/Makefile.include
index 66add33aaaf2..a945a0f33aae 100644
--- a/cpu/atmega1281/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/atmega1281/Makefile.include
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 # tell the build system that the CPU depends on the atmega common files
 USEMODULE += atmega_common
 
+# CPU family, see https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc/AVR-Options.html
+export CPU_FAM = avr51
+
 RAM_LEN = 8K
 ROM_LEN = 128K
 
diff --git a/cpu/atmega1284p/Makefile.include b/cpu/atmega1284p/Makefile.include
index 985d14cf9e42..d7ea3fddcf71 100644
--- a/cpu/atmega1284p/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/atmega1284p/Makefile.include
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 # tell the build system that the CPU depends on the atmega common files
 USEMODULE += atmega_common
 
+# CPU family, see https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc/AVR-Options.html
+export CPU_FAM = avr51
+
 RAM_LEN = 16K
 ROM_LEN = 128K
 
diff --git a/cpu/atmega2560/Makefile.include b/cpu/atmega2560/Makefile.include
index 16c500d37cc6..59e62f9214c0 100644
--- a/cpu/atmega2560/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/atmega2560/Makefile.include
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 # tell the build system that the CPU depends on the atmega common files
 USEMODULE += atmega_common
 
+# CPU family, see https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc/AVR-Options.html
+export CPU_FAM = avr6
+
 RAM_LEN = 8K
 ROM_LEN = 256K
 
diff --git a/cpu/atmega256rfr2/Makefile.include b/cpu/atmega256rfr2/Makefile.include
index c7e4d680eaeb..376cfac9d403 100644
--- a/cpu/atmega256rfr2/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/atmega256rfr2/Makefile.include
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 # tell the build system that the CPU depends on the atmega common files
 USEMODULE += atmega_common
 
+# CPU family, see https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc/AVR-Options.html
+export CPU_FAM = avr6
+
 #include periph module
 USEMODULE += periph
 
diff --git a/cpu/atmega328p/Makefile.include b/cpu/atmega328p/Makefile.include
index 20119203dd60..736b3713de5b 100644
--- a/cpu/atmega328p/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/atmega328p/Makefile.include
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 # tell the build system that the CPU depends on the atmega common files
 USEMODULE += atmega_common
 
+# CPU family, see https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc/AVR-Options.html
+export CPU_FAM = avr5
+
 RAM_LEN = 2K
 ROM_LEN = 32K
 
diff --git a/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include b/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include
index de69fa6fb721..1616f6fbd684 100644
--- a/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include
@@ -17,9 +17,6 @@ endif
 # include CPU family module
 USEMODULE += cpu_$(EFM32_FAMILY)
 
-# vectors.o is provided by 'cpu_$(EFM32_FAMILY)' and not by 'cpu'
-VECTORS_O := $(BINDIR)/cpu_$(EFM32_FAMILY)/vectors.o
-
 # include common periph module
 USEMODULE += periph_common
 
diff --git a/cpu/kinetis/Makefile.include b/cpu/kinetis/Makefile.include
index a5f36b4ed0b3..de390d39e432 100644
--- a/cpu/kinetis/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/kinetis/Makefile.include
@@ -30,9 +30,6 @@ LINKFLAGS += $(LINKFLAGPREFIX)--defsym=_ram_start_addr=$(RAM_START_ADDR)
 LINKFLAGS += $(LINKFLAGPREFIX)--defsym=_rom_length=$(ROM_LEN)
 LINKFLAGS += $(LINKFLAGPREFIX)--defsym=_ram_length=$(RAM_LEN)
 
-# add the CPU specific flash configuration field for the linker
-export UNDEF += $(BINDIR)/cpu/fcfield.o
-
 # include common periph drivers
 USEMODULE += periph_common
 
diff --git a/cpu/mips32r2_common/Makefile.include b/cpu/mips32r2_common/Makefile.include
index 8924ee503721..25529c6345af 100644
--- a/cpu/mips32r2_common/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/mips32r2_common/Makefile.include
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ export USEMODULE += newlib
 # mips32 needs periph_timer for its gettimeofday() implementation
 export USEMODULE += periph_timer
 
+# Need to tell the linker about the CPU endianness
+export ILINKFLAGS += -r -EL --unique
+
 ifeq ($(USE_UHI_SYSCALLS),1)
   #Use UHI to handle syscalls
   export LINKFLAGS += -luhi
diff --git a/cpu/mips32r2_common/newlib_syscalls_mips_uhi/syscalls.c b/cpu/mips32r2_common/newlib_syscalls_mips_uhi/syscalls.c
index 87efbb0c5750..f21a7e729184 100644
--- a/cpu/mips32r2_common/newlib_syscalls_mips_uhi/syscalls.c
+++ b/cpu/mips32r2_common/newlib_syscalls_mips_uhi/syscalls.c
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ extern char _sheap; /* start of the heap */
 extern char _eheap; /* end of the heap */
 char *heap_top = &_sheap + 4;
 
+/* MIPS newlib crt implements _init,_fini and _exit and manages the heap */
+#ifndef __mips__
 /**
  * @brief Free resources on NewLib de-initialization, not used for RIOT
  */
@@ -98,6 +100,8 @@ void *_sbrk_r(struct _reent *r, ptrdiff_t incr)
     return res;
 }
 
+#endif /*__mips__*/
+
 /**
 * @brief Get the process-ID of the current thread
 *
diff --git a/cpu/msp430_common/Makefile.include b/cpu/msp430_common/Makefile.include
index ab6e0cf8c0d3..472b3b41e4b5 100644
--- a/cpu/msp430_common/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/msp430_common/Makefile.include
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ INCLUDES += -I$(RIOTCPU)/msp430_common/include/
 MODEL = $(shell echo $(CPU_MODEL) | tr 'a-z' 'A-Z')
 export CFLAGS += -DCPU_MODEL_$(MODEL)
 
-export UNDEF += $(BINDIR)/msp430_common/startup.o
 export USEMODULE += msp430_common msp430_common_periph periph_common
 
 DEFAULT_MODULE += oneway_malloc
diff --git a/makefiles/arch/atmega.inc.mk b/makefiles/arch/atmega.inc.mk
index b45178e3016b..dea44ad1d348 100644
--- a/makefiles/arch/atmega.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/arch/atmega.inc.mk
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ CFLAGS_OPT  ?= -Os
 
 CFLAGS    += $(CFLAGS_CPU) $(CFLAGS_LINK) $(CFLAGS_DBG) $(CFLAGS_OPT)
 ASFLAGS   += $(CFLAGS_CPU) $(CFLAGS_DBG)
+# See https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc/AVR-Options.html for information on
+# which CPU_FAM corresponds to your CPU
+ILINKFLAGS += -r -m $(CPU_FAM) --unique
 LINKFLAGS += $(CFLAGS_CPU) $(CFLAGS_DBG) $(CFLAGS_OPT) -static -lgcc -e reset_handler -Wl,--gc-sections
 OFLAGS    += -j .text -j .data
 
@@ -27,10 +30,6 @@ endif
 # the atmel port uses stdio_uart
 USEMODULE += stdio_uart
 
-# explicitly tell the linker to link the syscalls and startup code.
-# without this the interrupt vectors will not be linked correctly!
-UNDEF += $(BINDIR)/atmega_common/startup.o
-
 # Use ROM_LEN and RAM_LEN during link
 $(if $(ROM_LEN),,$(error ROM_LEN is not defined))
 $(if $(RAM_LEN),,$(error RAM_LEN is not defined))
diff --git a/makefiles/arch/cortexm.inc.mk b/makefiles/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
index 0416869b9086..8418844bb0eb 100644
--- a/makefiles/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
@@ -133,13 +133,6 @@ export CFLAGS += -DARM_MATH_CM23
 endif
 endif
 
-# Explicitly tell the linker to link the startup code.
-#   Without this the interrupt vectors will not be linked correctly!
-VECTORS_O ?= $(BINDIR)/cpu/vectors.o
-ifeq ($(COMMON_STARTUP),)
-export UNDEF += $(VECTORS_O)
-endif
-
 # CPU depends on the cortex-m common module, so include it:
 include $(RIOTCPU)/cortexm_common/Makefile.include
 
diff --git a/makefiles/arch/riscv.inc.mk b/makefiles/arch/riscv.inc.mk
index 549e3d87f3a0..76b693de283a 100644
--- a/makefiles/arch/riscv.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/arch/riscv.inc.mk
@@ -17,3 +17,5 @@ export CFLAGS += $(CFLAGS_CPU) $(CFLAGS_DBG) $(CFLAGS_OPT) $(CFLAGS_LINK)
 export ASFLAGS += $(CFLAGS_CPU) $(CFLAGS_DBG)
 # export linker flags
 export LINKFLAGS += $(CFLAGS_CPU) $(CFLAGS_LINK) $(CFLAGS_DBG) $(CFLAGS_OPT) -Wl,--gc-sections -static -lgcc
+# ld defaults to elf64-littleriscv, tell it to use elf32 in incremental links
+ILINKFLAGS += -m elf32lriscv -r --unique
diff --git a/makefiles/bindist.inc.mk b/makefiles/bindist.inc.mk
index b8b8510e61bf..b695b06e4f45 100644
--- a/makefiles/bindist.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/bindist.inc.mk
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Avoid including APPLICATION_MODULE twice to prevent multiple definition errors
 USEMODULE += $(filter-out $(APPLICATION_MODULE),$(BIN_USEMODULE))
 
-DIST_FILES += $(BIN_USEMODULE:%=bin/$(BOARD)/%.a)
+DIST_FILES += $(BIN_USEMODULE:%=bin/$(BOARD)/%.o)
 
 # if the file Makefile.distcheck exists, we're executing from within a folder
 # generated by "make bindist".
diff --git a/makefiles/docker.inc.mk b/makefiles/docker.inc.mk
index 058e62363286..222684eee398 100644
--- a/makefiles/docker.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/docker.inc.mk
@@ -60,7 +60,6 @@ export DOCKER_ENV_VARS = \
   SCANBUILD_OUTPUTDIR \
   SIZE \
   TOOLCHAIN \
-  UNDEF \
   #
 
 # Find which variables were set using the command line or the environment and
diff --git a/makefiles/modules.inc.mk b/makefiles/modules.inc.mk
index 7dd0575b37ee..ba713f82005b 100644
--- a/makefiles/modules.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/modules.inc.mk
@@ -2,9 +2,19 @@ ED = $(addprefix MODULE_,$(sort $(USEMODULE) $(USEPKG)))
 EXTDEFINES = $(addprefix -D,$(shell echo '$(ED)' | tr 'a-z-' 'A-Z_'))
 
 # filter "pseudomodules" from "real modules", but not "no_pseudomodules"
-NO_PSEUDOMODULES := $(filter $(NO_PSEUDOMODULES), $(sort $(USEMODULE) $(USEPKG)))
-REALMODULES = $(filter-out $(PSEUDOMODULES), $(sort $(USEMODULE) $(USEPKG))) $(NO_PSEUDOMODULES)
-export BASELIBS += $(REALMODULES:%=$(BINDIR)/%.a)
+# any module listed in LIBS will be used as a .a file instead of .o
+REALMODULES = $(filter-out $(LIBS), \
+  $(filter-out $(PSEUDOMODULES), $(USEMODULE)) \
+  $(filter $(NO_PSEUDOMODULES), $(USEMODULE)))
+REALPKGS = $(filter-out $(LIBS), \
+  $(filter-out $(PSEUDOMODULES), $(USEPKG)) \
+  $(filter $(NO_PSEUDOMODULES), $(USEPKG)))
+REALARCHIVES = $(filter $(LIBS),$(USEMODULE) $(USEPKG))
+# filter out any duplicate object file names
+BASELIBS += \
+  $(shell printf %s '$(REALMODULES:%=$(BINDIR)/%.o) $(REALPKGS:%=$(BINDIR)/%.o)' | \
+  tr ' ' '\n' | awk '!a[$$0]++')
+BASELIBS += $(REALARCHIVES:%=$(BINDIR)/%.a)
 
 CFLAGS += $(EXTDEFINES)
 
diff --git a/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk b/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk
index 6132f5b16d82..98b4d21a601f 100644
--- a/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ PSEUDOMODULES += pktqueue
 PSEUDOMODULES += printf_float
 PSEUDOMODULES += prng
 PSEUDOMODULES += prng_%
+PSEUDOMODULES += pthread_tls
 PSEUDOMODULES += riotboot_%
 PSEUDOMODULES += saul_adc
 PSEUDOMODULES += saul_default
diff --git a/makefiles/scan-build.inc.mk b/makefiles/scan-build.inc.mk
index 9fcf881b0d18..2566240b4b9a 100644
--- a/makefiles/scan-build.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/scan-build.inc.mk
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ SCANBUILD_ENV_VARS := \
   RIOT_CI_BUILD \
   SIZE \
   TOOLCHAIN \
-  UNDEF \
   USER \
   #
 
diff --git a/makefiles/toolchain/gnu.inc.mk b/makefiles/toolchain/gnu.inc.mk
index a65d433c7da7..f2ec89bfa7f5 100644
--- a/makefiles/toolchain/gnu.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/toolchain/gnu.inc.mk
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ export RANLIB     = $(PREFIX)ranlib
 endif
 export AS         = $(PREFIX)as
 export NM         = $(PREFIX)nm
+export LD         = $(PREFIX)ld
+export ILINK      = $(LD)
+export ILINKFLAGS ?= -r --unique
 export LINK       = $(PREFIX)gcc
 export LINKXX     = $(PREFIX)g++
 export SIZE       = $(PREFIX)size
diff --git a/makefiles/toolchain/llvm.inc.mk b/makefiles/toolchain/llvm.inc.mk
index f005ca7092ad..b266befe1536 100644
--- a/makefiles/toolchain/llvm.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/toolchain/llvm.inc.mk
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ export NM          = $(LLVMPREFIX)nm
 # compatible with GCC. For instance spec files as used in
 # `makefiles/libc/newlib.mk` are not supported. Therefore
 # we just use GCC for now.
+export LD          = $(PREFIX)ld
+export ILINK       = $(LD)
+export ILINKFLAGS ?= -r --unique
 export LINK        = $(PREFIX)gcc
 export LINKXX      = $(PREFIX)g++
 # objcopy does not have a clear substitute in LLVM, use GNU binutils
diff --git a/makefiles/vars.inc.mk b/makefiles/vars.inc.mk
index bff4d74f52a1..b5f2343d481d 100644
--- a/makefiles/vars.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/vars.inc.mk
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ export CXXINCLUDES           # The extra include paths for c++, set by the vario
 
 export USEMODULE             # Sys Module dependencies of the application. Set in the application's Makefile.
 export USEPKG                # Pkg dependencies (third party modules) of the application. Set in the application's Makefile.
+export LIBS                  # Build a static archive instead of a single object file for the given modules. Set by the package's Makefile.include when necessary
 export DISABLE_MODULE        # Used in the application's Makefile to suppress DEFAULT_MODULEs.
 export APPDEPS               # Files / Makefile targets that need to be created before the application can be build. Set in the application's Makefile.
 # BUILDDEPS                  # Files / Makefile targets that need to be created before starting to build.
@@ -55,6 +56,8 @@ export AR                    # The command to create the object file archives.
 export ARFLAGS               # Command-line options to pass to AR, default `rcs`.
 export AS                    # The assembler.
 export ASFLAGS               # Flags for the assembler.
+export ILINK                 # Command used to perform incremental linking to create intermediate object files. Usually "ld"
+export ILINKFLAGS            # Incremental link command line options.
 export LINK                  # The command used to link the files. Must take the same parameters as GCC, i.e. "ld" won't work.
 # LINKFLAGS                  # Flags to supply in the linking step.
 export LTOFLAGS              # extra CFLAGS for compiling with link time optimization
@@ -64,7 +67,6 @@ export OBJDUMP               # The command used to create the assembly listing.
 export OBJDUMPFLAGS          # The parameter for OBJDUMP.
 export SIZE                  # The command to read to size of the ELF sections.
 export SIZEFLAGS             # The optional size flags.
-export UNDEF                 # Object files that the linker must include in the ELFFILE even if no call to the functions or symbols (ex: interrupt vectors).
 export WERROR                # Treat all compiler warnings as errors if set to 1 (see -Werror flag in GCC manual)
 
 export GITCACHE              # path to git-cache executable
diff --git a/pkg/ccn-lite/Makefile.include b/pkg/ccn-lite/Makefile.include
index a91eba997aa0..e0ac5b0a8aa4 100644
--- a/pkg/ccn-lite/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/ccn-lite/Makefile.include
@@ -5,3 +5,4 @@ INCLUDES += -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/ccn-lite/src/ccnl-fwd/include
 INCLUDES += -I$(RIOTBASE)/sys/posix/include
 
 CFLAGS += -DCCNL_RIOT
+LIBS += ccn-lite
diff --git a/pkg/jerryscript/Makefile.include b/pkg/jerryscript/Makefile.include
index fdf28101d478..87411b9e9d02 100644
--- a/pkg/jerryscript/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/jerryscript/Makefile.include
@@ -1,2 +1,7 @@
 INCLUDES += -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/jerryscript/jerry-core/include
 INCLUDES += -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/jerryscript/jerry-ext/include
+
+# the jerryscript build produces static archives
+LIBS += jerryscript
+LIBS += jerryscript-ext
+LIBS += jerryport-minimal
diff --git a/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/Makefile.include b/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/Makefile.include
index a06b35192af6..4341b83be56b 100644
--- a/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/Makefile.include
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ CFLAGS += -Wno-pedantic -Wno-unused-parameter -Wno-sign-compare
 # so set this, otherwise linking fails
 CFLAGS_FPU := -mfloat-abi=hard -mfpu=fpv4-sp-d16
 
+# ble_6lowpan.a is provided as a binary-only library within the softdevice package
+LIBS += ble_6lowpan
+
 DIRS += \
 		$(RIOTBASE)/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/src \
 		$(NORDIC_SRCS)/components/softdevice/common/softdevice_handler \
diff --git a/pkg/oonf_api/Makefile b/pkg/oonf_api/Makefile
index 09e0bcca5e4c..3d978a055dfa 100644
--- a/pkg/oonf_api/Makefile
+++ b/pkg/oonf_api/Makefile
@@ -12,10 +12,6 @@ CFLAGS += -Wno-implicit-fallthrough
 
 all: git-download
 	"$(MAKE)" -C $(PKG_BUILDDIR)
-	"$(MAKE)" $(BINDIR)/$(MODULE).a
-
-$(BINDIR)/$(MODULE).a: $(BINDIR)/oonf_*.a
-	mkdir -p $(BINDIR)/$(MODULE); cd $(BINDIR)/$(MODULE); for var in $?; do ar -x $$var; done; ar -r -c -s $(BINDIR)/$(MODULE).a *.o
 
 include $(RIOTBASE)/pkg/pkg.mk
 ifneq (,$(filter -Wformat-nonliteral -Wformat=2, $(CFLAGS)))
diff --git a/pkg/oonf_api/Makefile.include b/pkg/oonf_api/Makefile.include
index ec6be727f0ef..5ee0c0ec0609 100644
--- a/pkg/oonf_api/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/oonf_api/Makefile.include
@@ -3,3 +3,5 @@ INCLUDES += -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/oonf_api/src-api
 ifeq ($(TOOLCHAIN), llvm)
   CFLAGS += -Wno-keyword-macro -Wno-parentheses-equality
 endif
+
+LIBS += oonf_api
diff --git a/pkg/oonf_api/patches/0001-add-RIOT-support.patch b/pkg/oonf_api/patches/0001-add-RIOT-support.patch
index e8ec40831b77..91b5597daa2e 100644
--- a/pkg/oonf_api/patches/0001-add-RIOT-support.patch
+++ b/pkg/oonf_api/patches/0001-add-RIOT-support.patch
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ new file mode 100644
 index 0000000..1f1cd9c
 --- /dev/null
 +++ b/Makefile
-@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
 +#
 +# to use oonf_api in your RIOT project,
 +# add the following to your Makefile:
@@ -50,19 +50,14 @@ index 0000000..1f1cd9c
 +ifneq (,$(filter oonf_regex,$(USEMODULE)))
 +	DIRS += external/regex
 +endif
-+
-+all:
-+	mkdir -p $(BINDIR)
-+	@for i in $(DIRS) ; do $(MAKE) -C $$i || exit 1; done ;
-+
-+clean:
++include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.base
 diff --git a/external/regex/Makefile b/external/regex/Makefile
 new file mode 100644
 index 0000000..3bc1ce1
 --- /dev/null
 +++ b/external/regex/Makefile
 @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
-+MODULE:=oonf_$(shell basename $(CURDIR))
++MODULE:=oonf_$(notdir $(CURDIR))
 +INCLUDES += $(CURDIR)/..
 +
 +include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.base
@@ -72,7 +67,7 @@ index 0000000..5e0046d
 --- /dev/null
 +++ b/src-api/common/Makefile
 @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
-+MODULE:=oonf_$(shell basename $(CURDIR))
++MODULE:=oonf_$(notdir $(CURDIR))
 +
 +include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.base
 diff --git a/src-api/common/autobuf.c b/src-api/common/autobuf.c
@@ -188,7 +183,7 @@ index 0000000..5e0046d
 --- /dev/null
 +++ b/src-api/rfc5444/Makefile
 @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
-+MODULE:=oonf_$(shell basename $(CURDIR))
++MODULE:=oonf_$(notdir $(CURDIR))
 +
 +include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.base
 diff --git a/src-api/rfc5444/rfc5444_api_config.h b/src-api/rfc5444/rfc5444_api_config.h
diff --git a/pkg/openthread/Makefile b/pkg/openthread/Makefile
index 863c1af35915..aa741a36533d 100644
--- a/pkg/openthread/Makefile
+++ b/pkg/openthread/Makefile
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ OPENTHREAD_COMMON_FLAGS += -Wno-implicit-fallthrough -Wno-unused-parameter
 
 all: git-download
 	cd $(PKG_BUILDDIR) && PREFIX="/" ./bootstrap
-	cd $(PKG_BUILDDIR) && CPP="$(CPP)" CC="$(CC)" CXX="$(CXX)"\
+	cd $(PKG_BUILDDIR) && LIBS="" CPP="$(CPP)" CC="$(CC)" CXX="$(CXX)"\
 		OBJC="" OBJCXX="" AR="$(AR)" RANLIB="$(RANLIB)" NM="$(NM)" \
 		STRIP="$(STRIP)" \
 		CPPFLAGS="$(OPENTHREAD_COMMON_FLAGS) $(CFLAGS_CPU) -D$(CONFIG_FILE)" \
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ all: git-download
 		LDFLAGS="$(OPENTHREAD_COMMON_FLAGS) $(CFLAGS_CPU) -nostartfiles -specs=nano.specs \
 		-specs=nosys.specs -Wl,--gc-sections -Wl,-Map=map.map " \
 		./configure --disable-docs --host=$(TARGET_ARCH) --target=$(TARGET_ARCH) \
-		--prefix=/ --enable-default-logging $(OPENTHREAD_ARGS)
+		--prefix=/ $(OPENTHREAD_ARGS)
 	cd $(PKG_BUILDDIR) &&  DESTDIR=$(PKG_BUILDDIR)/output PREFIX=/ make -j4 --no-print-directory install
 
 	cp $(PKG_BUILDDIR)/output/lib/libmbedcrypto.a ${BINDIR}/mbedcrypto.a
diff --git a/pkg/openthread/Makefile.include b/pkg/openthread/Makefile.include
index d399a8f90253..8cdbc7610078 100644
--- a/pkg/openthread/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/openthread/Makefile.include
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ ifneq (,$(filter openthread_contrib,$(USEMODULE)))
   DIRS += $(OPENTHREAD_DIR)/contrib/netdev
 endif
 
+LIBS += libmbedcrypto
+LIBS += libopenthread
+LIBS += libopenthread-cli
+
 ifneq (,$(filter cortex-m0% cortex-m3%,$(CPU_ARCH)))
   # There are problem with unused `-mcpu...` arguments in clang and with
   # ranlib + LLVM/clang in this package with Cortex-M0 and M3
diff --git a/pkg/relic/Makefile.include b/pkg/relic/Makefile.include
index 5dc828d0ec28..80c149464ef9 100644
--- a/pkg/relic/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/relic/Makefile.include
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 INCLUDES += -I$(PKGDIRBASE)/relic/include
 
+LIBS += relic
+
 ifneq (,$(filter cortex-m%,$(CPU_ARCH)))
   # relic package package is not using system includes right now, so
   # many newlib headers (not even stdio.h) are not found.
diff --git a/sys/Makefile.include b/sys/Makefile.include
index b87126c5388f..7f86d90d5311 100644
--- a/sys/Makefile.include
+++ b/sys/Makefile.include
@@ -37,9 +37,6 @@ endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter cpp11-compat,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE_INCLUDES += $(RIOTBASE)/sys/cpp11-compat/include
-  # make sure cppsupport.o is linked explicitly because __dso_handle is not
-  # found if it is hidden away inside a static object.
-  export UNDEF += $(BINDIR)/cpp11-compat/cppsupport.o
 endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter embunit,$(USEMODULE)))
@@ -64,10 +61,6 @@ ifneq (,$(filter newlib,$(USEMODULE)))
   include $(RIOTMAKE)/libc/newlib.mk
 endif
 
-ifneq (,$(filter newlib_syscalls_default,$(USEMODULE)))
-  include $(RIOTBASE)/sys/newlib_syscalls_default/Makefile.include
-endif
-
 ifneq (,$(filter arduino,$(USEMODULE)))
   include $(RIOTBASE)/sys/arduino/Makefile.include
 endif
diff --git a/sys/newlib_syscalls_default/Makefile.include b/sys/newlib_syscalls_default/Makefile.include
deleted file mode 100644
index 419a6feddc87..000000000000
--- a/sys/newlib_syscalls_default/Makefile.include
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-UNDEF += $(BINDIR)/newlib_syscalls_default/syscalls.o
diff --git a/sys/posix/pthread/Makefile b/sys/posix/pthread/Makefile
index 48422e909a47..c9aaa08d00fe 100644
--- a/sys/posix/pthread/Makefile
+++ b/sys/posix/pthread/Makefile
@@ -1 +1,6 @@
+# exclude pthread_tls if not selected explicitly
+ifeq (,$(filter pthread_tls,$(USEMODULE)))
+  SRC := $(filter-out pthread_tls.c,$(wildcard *.c))
+endif
+
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.base
diff --git a/tests/pthread_tls/Makefile b/tests/pthread_tls/Makefile
index 728b0c10f015..97e550307314 100644
--- a/tests/pthread_tls/Makefile
+++ b/tests/pthread_tls/Makefile
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ BOARD_BLACKLIST := arduino-mega2560 waspmote-pro arduino-uno arduino-duemilanove
 
 USEMODULE += posix
 USEMODULE += pthread
+USEMODULE += pthread_tls
 
 TEST_ON_CI_WHITELIST += all
 
diff --git a/tests/unittests/Makefile b/tests/unittests/Makefile
index 87ce8102c85d..33fb2c9c3c10 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/Makefile
+++ b/tests/unittests/Makefile
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ DISABLE_MODULE += auto_init
 -include $(UNIT_TESTS:%=$(RIOTBASE)/tests/unittests/%/Makefile.include)
 
 DIRS += $(UNIT_TESTS)
-BASELIBS += $(UNIT_TESTS:%=$(BINDIR)/%.a)
+BASELIBS += $(UNIT_TESTS:%=$(BINDIR)/%.o)
 
 INCLUDES += -I$(RIOTBASE)/tests/unittests/common