diff --git a/dist/tools/cppcheck/check.sh b/dist/tools/cppcheck/check.sh
index ffcb687ca7024..cf5167d20ed48 100755
--- a/dist/tools/cppcheck/check.sh
+++ b/dist/tools/cppcheck/check.sh
@@ -42,6 +42,6 @@ if [ -z "${FILES}" ]; then
     exit
 fi
 
-cppcheck --std=c99 --enable=style --force --error-exitcode=2 --quiet -j 8 \
+cppcheck --std=c99 --enable=style --force --error-exitcode=2 --quiet -j 1 \
          --template "{file}:{line}: {severity} ({id}): {message}"         \
          --inline-suppr ${DEFAULT_SUPPRESSIONS} ${@} ${FILES}