diff --git a/boards/msba2-common/Makefile.include b/boards/msba2-common/Makefile.include
index c6311460efde..7a00897f0009 100644
--- a/boards/msba2-common/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/msba2-common/Makefile.include
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ export LINKFLAGS += -Wl,--gc-sections
 
 # use the nano-specs of Newlib when available
 ifeq ($(shell $(LINK) -specs=nano.specs -E - 2>/dev/null >/dev/null </dev/null ; echo $$?),0)
+export CFLAGS += -specs=nano.specs
 export LINKFLAGS += -specs=nano.specs -lc -lnosys
 endif
 
diff --git a/cpu/Makefile.include.cortexm_common b/cpu/Makefile.include.cortexm_common
index 2c3f941c5043..e3f66b31a014 100644
--- a/cpu/Makefile.include.cortexm_common
+++ b/cpu/Makefile.include.cortexm_common
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ include $(RIOTCPU)/cortexm_common/Makefile.include
 
 # use the nano-specs of Newlib when available
 ifeq ($(shell $(LINK) -specs=nano.specs -E - 2>/dev/null >/dev/null </dev/null ; echo $$?),0)
+export CFLAGS += -specs=nano.specs
 export LINKFLAGS += -specs=nano.specs -lc -lnosys
 endif