diff --git a/cpu/samd21/include/periph_cpu.h b/cpu/samd21/include/periph_cpu.h
index 8d306a8226b57..70a264373ae25 100644
--- a/cpu/samd21/include/periph_cpu.h
+++ b/cpu/samd21/include/periph_cpu.h
@@ -95,6 +95,9 @@ static inline int _sercom_id(SercomUsart *sercom)
     return ((((uint32_t)sercom) >> 10) & 0x7) - 2;
 }
 
+/* these functions are documented in periph_cpu_common.h, but Doxygen
+ * is unable to connect the dots */
+#if !DOXYGEN
 static inline void sercom_apb_enable(sercom_t sercom)
 {
     PM->APBCMASK.reg |= (PM_APBCMASK_SERCOM0 << sercom);
@@ -111,6 +114,7 @@ static inline void sercom_gclk_enable(sercom_t sercom, uint8_t gclk)
                          (SERCOM0_GCLK_ID_CORE + sercom));
     while (GCLK->STATUS.reg & GCLK_STATUS_SYNCBUSY) {}
 }
+#endif
 
 /**
  * @brief   Pins that can be used for ADC input
diff --git a/cpu/samd5x/include/periph_cpu.h b/cpu/samd5x/include/periph_cpu.h
index 0686a2b6e71b1..52ca606f7fdf0 100644
--- a/cpu/samd5x/include/periph_cpu.h
+++ b/cpu/samd5x/include/periph_cpu.h
@@ -296,6 +296,9 @@ struct sam0_aux_cfg_mapping {
 #define SAM0_SDHC1_PIN_SDCK     GPIO_PIN(PA, 21)    /**< Clock          */
 /** @} */
 
+/* these functions are documented in periph_cpu_common.h, but Doxygen
+ * is unable to connect the dots */
+#if !DOXYGEN
 static inline void sercom_apb_enable(sercom_t sercom)
 {
     if (sercom < 2) {
@@ -326,6 +329,7 @@ static inline void sercom_gclk_enable(sercom_t sercom, uint8_t gclk)
 {
     GCLK->PCHCTRL[_sercom_gclk_id_core(sercom)].reg = (GCLK_PCHCTRL_CHEN | GCLK_PCHCTRL_GEN(gclk));
 }
+#endif
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/cpu/saml1x/include/periph_cpu.h b/cpu/saml1x/include/periph_cpu.h
index 8fcfa477f35f8..8208b70729f42 100644
--- a/cpu/saml1x/include/periph_cpu.h
+++ b/cpu/saml1x/include/periph_cpu.h
@@ -155,6 +155,9 @@ struct sam0_aux_cfg_mapping {
     uint32_t user_crc;            /**< CRC of NVM User Row bits 223:64 (words 2…6)      */
 };
 
+/* these functions are documented in periph_cpu_common.h, but Doxygen
+ * is unable to connect the dots */
+#if !DOXYGEN
 static inline void sercom_apb_enable(sercom_t sercom)
 {
     MCLK->APBCMASK.reg |= (MCLK_APBCMASK_SERCOM0 << sercom);
@@ -169,6 +172,7 @@ static inline void sercom_gclk_enable(sercom_t sercom, uint8_t gclk)
 {
     GCLK->PCHCTRL[SERCOM0_GCLK_ID_CORE + sercom].reg = (GCLK_PCHCTRL_CHEN | GCLK_PCHCTRL_GEN(gclk));
 }
+#endif
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/cpu/saml21/include/periph_cpu.h b/cpu/saml21/include/periph_cpu.h
index 56c22c578b126..d81ff05c567bf 100644
--- a/cpu/saml21/include/periph_cpu.h
+++ b/cpu/saml21/include/periph_cpu.h
@@ -169,6 +169,9 @@ struct sam0_aux_cfg_mapping {
 };
 /** @} */
 
+/* these functions are documented in periph_cpu_common.h, but Doxygen
+ * is unable to connect the dots */
+#if !DOXYGEN
 static inline void sercom_apb_enable(sercom_t sercom)
 {
     if (sercom < 5) {
@@ -198,6 +201,7 @@ static inline void sercom_gclk_enable(sercom_t sercom, uint8_t gclk)
         GCLK->PCHCTRL[SERCOM5_GCLK_ID_CORE].reg = (GCLK_PCHCTRL_CHEN | GCLK_PCHCTRL_GEN(gclk));
     }
 }
+#endif
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }