diff --git a/cpu/kinetis_common/include/periph_cpu.h b/cpu/kinetis_common/include/periph_cpu.h
index 0678a1b0ae4fe..dbc4cf84ab618 100644
--- a/cpu/kinetis_common/include/periph_cpu.h
+++ b/cpu/kinetis_common/include/periph_cpu.h
@@ -205,16 +205,28 @@ typedef enum {
 #endif /* ndef DOXYGEN */
 
 /**
- * @name    CPU specific UART modes values
- * @{
+ * @brief    UART transmission modes
  */
-/** @brief 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit */
-#define UART_MODE_8N1       (0)
-/** @brief 8 data bits, even parity, 1 stop bit */
-#define UART_MODE_8E1       (UART_C1_PE_MASK | UART_C1_M_MASK)
-/** @brief 8 data bits, odd parity, 1 stop bit */
-#define UART_MODE_8O1       (UART_C1_PE_MASK | UART_C1_M_MASK | UART_C1_PT_MASK)
-/** @} */
+typedef enum {
+    /** @brief 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit */
+    UART_MODE_8N1 = 0,
+    /** @brief 8 data bits, even parity, 1 stop bit */
+#if defined(UART_C1_M_MASK)
+    /* LPUART and UART mode bits coincide, so the same setting for UART works on
+     * the LPUART as well */
+    UART_MODE_8E1 = (UART_C1_M_MASK | UART_C1_PE_MASK),
+#elif defined(LPUART_CTRL_M_MASK)
+    /* For CPUs which only have the LPUART */
+    UART_MODE_8E1 = (LPUART_CTRL_M_MASK | LPUART_CTRL_PE_MASK),
+#endif
+    /** @brief 8 data bits, odd parity, 1 stop bit */
+#if defined(UART_C1_M_MASK)
+    UART_MODE_8O1 = (UART_C1_M_MASK | UART_C1_PE_MASK | UART_C1_PT_MASK),
+#elif defined(LPUART_CTRL_M_MASK)
+    /* For CPUs which only have the LPUART */
+    UART_MODE_8O1 = (LPUART_CTRL_M_MASK | LPUART_CTRL_PE_MASK | LPUART_CTRL_PT_MASK),
+#endif
+} uart_mode_t;
 
 #ifndef DOXYGEN
 /**
@@ -336,7 +348,7 @@ typedef struct {
     IRQn_Type irqn;               /**< IRQ number for this module */
     volatile uint32_t *scgc_addr; /**< Clock enable register, in SIM module */
     uint8_t scgc_bit;             /**< Clock enable bit, within the register */
-    uint8_t mode;                 /**< UART mode: data bits, parity, stop bits */
+    uart_mode_t mode;             /**< UART mode: data bits, parity, stop bits */
     uart_type_t type;             /**< Hardware module type (KINETIS_UART or KINETIS_LPUART)*/
 } uart_conf_t;
 
diff --git a/cpu/kinetis_common/periph/uart.c b/cpu/kinetis_common/periph/uart.c
index 161e9de3bfa5c..1c617dce30780 100644
--- a/cpu/kinetis_common/periph/uart.c
+++ b/cpu/kinetis_common/periph/uart.c
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ static inline void uart_init_uart(uart_t uart, uint32_t baudrate)
     /* disable transmitter and receiver */
     dev->C2 &= ~(UART_C2_TE_MASK | UART_C2_RE_MASK);
 
-    /* set defaults, 8-bit mode, no parity */
+    /* Select mode */
     dev->C1 = uart_config[uart].mode;
 
     /* calculate baudrate */
@@ -295,9 +295,9 @@ static inline void uart_init_lpuart(uart_t uart, uint32_t baudrate)
 
     /* Remember to select a module clock in board_init! (SIM->SOPT2[LPUART0SRC]) */
 
-    /* set defaults, 8-bit mode, no parity */
+    /* Select mode */
     /* transmitter and receiver disabled */
-    dev->CTRL = 0;
+    dev->CTRL = uart_config[uart].mode;
 
     /* calculate baud rate divisor */
     uint32_t div = clk / (baudrate * LPUART_OVERSAMPLING_RATE);
@@ -306,7 +306,8 @@ static inline void uart_init_lpuart(uart_t uart, uint32_t baudrate)
     dev->BAUD = LPUART_BAUD_OSR(LPUART_OVERSAMPLING_RATE - 1) | LPUART_BAUD_SBR(div);
 
     /* enable transmitter and receiver + RX interrupt */
-    dev->CTRL = LPUART_CTRL_TE_MASK | LPUART_CTRL_RE_MASK | LPUART_CTRL_RIE_MASK;
+    dev->CTRL |= LPUART_CTRL_TE_MASK | LPUART_CTRL_RE_MASK | LPUART_CTRL_RIE_MASK;
+
     /* enable receive interrupt */
     NVIC_EnableIRQ(uart_config[uart].irqn);
 }