diff --git a/boards/common/silabs/Makefile.features b/boards/common/silabs/Makefile.features
index 0f1b19ddfb3d..66b8cb066d1f 100644
--- a/boards/common/silabs/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/common/silabs/Makefile.features
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 # Various other features (if any)
 FEATURES_PROVIDED += arduino
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += riotboot
diff --git a/boards/ikea-tradfri/Makefile.features b/boards/ikea-tradfri/Makefile.features
index d03b3183b67f..8bb814676b1f 100644
--- a/boards/ikea-tradfri/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/ikea-tradfri/Makefile.features
@@ -8,3 +8,6 @@ FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_rtt
 FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_spi
 FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_timer
 FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_uart periph_uart_modecfg
+
+# Put other features for this board (in alphabetical order)
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += riotboot
diff --git a/boards/ikea-tradfri/board.c b/boards/ikea-tradfri/board.c
index 9d1410bcc451..ee1d4b1b23d0 100644
--- a/boards/ikea-tradfri/board.c
+++ b/boards/ikea-tradfri/board.c
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@ void board_init(void)
     /* initialize the CPU */
     cpu_init();
 
+#ifndef RIOTBOOT
     /* initialize the LEDs */
     gpio_init(LED0_PIN, GPIO_OUT);
     gpio_init(LED1_PIN, GPIO_OUT);
+#endif
 }
diff --git a/boards/slstk3401a/board.c b/boards/slstk3401a/board.c
index 37313bb02737..3a346efd7738 100644
--- a/boards/slstk3401a/board.c
+++ b/boards/slstk3401a/board.c
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ void board_init(void)
     /* initialize the CPU */
     cpu_init();
 
+#ifndef RIOTBOOT
     /* perform common board initialization */
     board_common_init();
 
@@ -36,4 +37,5 @@ void board_init(void)
     gpio_init(SI7021_EN_PIN, GPIO_OUT);
     gpio_set(SI7021_EN_PIN);
 #endif
+#endif
 }
diff --git a/boards/slstk3402a/board.c b/boards/slstk3402a/board.c
index 4a0f9170e6c7..1ceed57ef9f3 100644
--- a/boards/slstk3402a/board.c
+++ b/boards/slstk3402a/board.c
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ void board_init(void)
     /* initialize the CPU */
     cpu_init();
 
+#ifndef RIOTBOOT
     /* perform common board initialization */
     board_common_init();
 
@@ -36,4 +37,5 @@ void board_init(void)
     gpio_init(SI7021_EN_PIN, GPIO_OUT);
     gpio_set(SI7021_EN_PIN);
 #endif
+#endif
 }
diff --git a/boards/sltb001a/board.c b/boards/sltb001a/board.c
index 26bde761d888..94ec47af4c60 100644
--- a/boards/sltb001a/board.c
+++ b/boards/sltb001a/board.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ void board_init(void)
     /* initialize the CPU */
     cpu_init();
 
+#ifndef RIOTBOOT
     /* perform common board initialization */
     board_common_init();
 
@@ -61,4 +62,5 @@ void board_init(void)
               (RGB_LED4_ENABLED << RGB_LED4_EN_BIT));
 #endif
 #endif
+#endif
 }
diff --git a/boards/slwstk6000b/board.c b/boards/slwstk6000b/board.c
index ed1d85e517f0..606e86415b15 100644
--- a/boards/slwstk6000b/board.c
+++ b/boards/slwstk6000b/board.c
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ void board_init(void)
     /* initialize the CPU */
     cpu_init();
 
+#ifndef RIOTBOOT
     /* perform common board initialization */
     board_common_init();
 
@@ -36,4 +37,5 @@ void board_init(void)
     gpio_init(SI7021_EN_PIN, GPIO_OUT);
     gpio_set(SI7021_EN_PIN);
 #endif
+#endif
 }
diff --git a/boards/stk3600/board.c b/boards/stk3600/board.c
index 3ee4f85774fa..19f1453ff147 100644
--- a/boards/stk3600/board.c
+++ b/boards/stk3600/board.c
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ void board_init(void)
     /* initialize the CPU */
     cpu_init();
 
+#ifndef RIOTBOOT
     /* perform common board initialization */
     board_common_init();
+#endif
 }
diff --git a/boards/stk3700/board.c b/boards/stk3700/board.c
index de838de006e1..27b36725d66f 100644
--- a/boards/stk3700/board.c
+++ b/boards/stk3700/board.c
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ void board_init(void)
     /* initialize the CPU */
     cpu_init();
 
+#ifndef RIOTBOOT
     /* perform common board initialization */
     board_common_init();
+#endif
 }
diff --git a/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include b/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include
index 0a054832937d..cb5d566fc49d 100644
--- a/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/efm32/Makefile.include
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@ include $(RIOTCPU)/efm32/efm32-info.mk
 export CPU_ARCH = $(EFM32_ARCHITECTURE)
 export CPU_FAM = $(EFM32_FAMILY)
 
+# the size of riotboot on the EFM32 exceeds the default value
+RIOTBOOT_LEN ?= 0x2000
+
 # the em_device.h header requires a global define with the cpu model
 CFLAGS += -D$(call uppercase_and_underscore,$(CPU_MODEL))
 
diff --git a/cpu/efm32/cpu.c b/cpu/efm32/cpu.c
index 5c4a9a3835d2..4d34a9919db5 100644
--- a/cpu/efm32/cpu.c
+++ b/cpu/efm32/cpu.c
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@
 #define EMU_EM4INIT         EMU_EM4INIT_DEFAULT
 #endif
 
+#ifndef RIOTBOOT
+
 #ifdef _SILICON_LABS_32B_SERIES_1
 /**
  * @brief   Initialize integrated DC-DC regulator
@@ -154,14 +156,20 @@ static void pm_init(void)
 #endif
 }
 
+#endif
+
 void cpu_init(void)
 {
+#ifndef RIOTBOOT
     /* apply errata that may be applicable (see em_chip.h) */
     CHIP_Init();
+#endif
 
     /* initialize the Cortex-M core */
     cortexm_init();
 
+#ifndef RIOTBOOT
+
 #ifdef _SILICON_LABS_32B_SERIES_1
     /* initialize dc-dc */
     dcdc_init();
@@ -178,4 +186,5 @@ void cpu_init(void)
 
     /* trigger static peripheral initialization */
     periph_init();
+#endif
 }