diff --git a/cpu/cc2538/dev/uart.c b/cpu/cc2538/dev/uart.c
index 2354e565c..1ab2f81f1 100644
--- a/cpu/cc2538/dev/uart.c
+++ b/cpu/cc2538/dev/uart.c
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ reset(void)
   uint32_t lchr;
 
   /* Make sure the UART is disabled before trying to configure it */
-  REG(UART_BASE | UART_CTL) = UART_CTL_TXE | UART_CTL_RXE;
+  REG(UART_BASE | UART_CTL) = UART_CTL_VALUE;
 
   /* Clear error status */
   REG(UART_BASE | UART_ECR) = 0xFF;
@@ -165,11 +165,10 @@ uart_init(void)
     UART_IFLS_RXIFLSEL_1_8 | UART_IFLS_TXIFLSEL_1_2;
 
   /* Make sure the UART is disabled before trying to configure it */
-  REG(UART_BASE | UART_CTL) = UART_CTL_TXE | UART_CTL_RXE;
+  REG(UART_BASE | UART_CTL) = UART_CTL_VALUE;
 
   /* Baud Rate Generation */
-  REG(UART_BASE | UART_IBRD) = UART_CONF_IBRD;
-  REG(UART_BASE | UART_FBRD) = UART_CONF_FBRD;
+  uart_set_baudrate(UART_CONF_BAUD_RATE);
 
   /* UART Control: 8N1 with FIFOs */
   REG(UART_BASE | UART_LCRH) = UART_LCRH_WLEN_8 | UART_LCRH_FEN;
diff --git a/cpu/cc2538/dev/uart.h b/cpu/cc2538/dev/uart.h
index 8ae5dc486..fbc18fc18 100644
--- a/cpu/cc2538/dev/uart.h
+++ b/cpu/cc2538/dev/uart.h
@@ -65,50 +65,24 @@
  * \name Baud rate defines
  *
  * Used in uart_init() to set the values of UART_IBRD and UART_FBRD in order to
- * achieve some standard baud rates. These defines assume that the UART is
- * clocked at 16MHz and that Clock Div is 16 (UART_CTL:HSE clear)
+ * achieve some standard baud rates.
  * @{
  */
-#define UART_IBRD_9600              104 /**< IBRD value for baud rate 9600 */
-#define UART_FBRD_9600               11 /**< FBRD value for baud rate 9600 */
-#define UART_IBRD_38400              26 /**< IBRD value for baud rate 38400 */
-#define UART_FBRD_38400               3 /**< FBRD value for baud rate 38400 */
-#define UART_IBRD_57600              17 /**< IBRD value for baud rate 57600 */
-#define UART_FBRD_57600              24 /**< FBRD value for baud rate 57600 */
-#define UART_IBRD_115200              8 /**< IBRD value for baud rate 115200 */
-#define UART_FBRD_115200             44 /**< FBRD value for baud rate 115200 */
-#define UART_IBRD_230400              4 /**< IBRD value for baud rate 230400 */
-#define UART_FBRD_230400             22 /**< FBRD value for baud rate 230400 */
-#define UART_IBRD_460800              2 /**< IBRD value for baud rate 460800 */
-#define UART_FBRD_460800             11 /**< FBRD value for baud rate 460800 */
+#define UART_CLOCK_RATE       16000000 /* 16 MHz */
+#define UART_CTL_HSE_VALUE    0
+#define UART_CTL_VALUE        ( UART_CTL_RXE | UART_CTL_TXE | (UART_CTL_HSE_VALUE << 5) )
+
+/* DIV_ROUND() divides integers while avoiding a rounding error: */
+#define DIV_ROUND(num, denom) ( ((num) + (denom) / 2) / (denom) )
+
+#define BAUD2BRD(baud)        DIV_ROUND(UART_CLOCK_RATE << (UART_CTL_HSE_VALUE + 2), (baud))
+
+#define uart_set_baudrate(baud) do {                       \
+  REG(UART_BASE | UART_IBRD) = BAUD2BRD(baud) >> 6;        \
+  REG(UART_BASE | UART_FBRD) = BAUD2BRD(baud) & 0x3f;      \
+  REG(UART_BASE | UART_LCRH) = REG(UART_BASE | UART_LCRH); \
+} while(0)
 
-#if UART_CONF_BAUD_RATE==9600
-#define UART_CONF_IBRD UART_IBRD_9600
-#define UART_CONF_FBRD UART_FBRD_9600
-#elif UART_CONF_BAUD_RATE==38400
-#define UART_CONF_IBRD UART_IBRD_38400
-#define UART_CONF_FBRD UART_FBRD_38400
-#elif UART_CONF_BAUD_RATE==57600
-#define UART_CONF_IBRD UART_IBRD_57600
-#define UART_CONF_FBRD UART_FBRD_57600
-#elif UART_CONF_BAUD_RATE==115200
-#define UART_CONF_IBRD UART_IBRD_115200
-#define UART_CONF_FBRD UART_FBRD_115200
-#elif UART_CONF_BAUD_RATE==230400
-#define UART_CONF_IBRD UART_IBRD_230400
-#define UART_CONF_FBRD UART_FBRD_230400
-#elif UART_CONF_BAUD_RATE==460800
-#define UART_CONF_IBRD UART_IBRD_460800
-#define UART_CONF_FBRD UART_FBRD_460800
-#else /* Bail out with an error unless the user provided custom values */
-#if !(defined UART_CONF_IBRD && defined UART_CONF_FBRD)
-#error "UART baud rate misconfigured and custom IBRD/FBRD values not provided"
-#error "Check the value of UART_CONF_BAUD_RATE in contiki-conf.h or project-conf.h"
-#error "Supported values are 9600, 38400, 57600, 115200, 230400 and 460800."
-#error "Alternatively, you can provide custom values for "
-#error "UART_CONF_IBRD and UART_CONF_FBRD"
-#endif
-#endif
 /** @} */
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 /** \name UART Register Offsets
diff --git a/platform/cc2538dk/README.md b/platform/cc2538dk/README.md
index 04941fddd..0a04d6b9a 100644
--- a/platform/cc2538dk/README.md
+++ b/platform/cc2538dk/README.md
@@ -367,14 +367,6 @@ By default, the CC2538 UART is configured with a baud rate of 115200. It is easy
 
     #define UART_CONF_BAUD_RATE 230400
 
-Currently, this configuration directive only supports values 115200, 230400 and 460800. Custom baud rates can also be achieved by following the steps below:
-
-* Configure `UART_CONF_BAUD_RATE` with an unsupported value to prevent it from auto-choosing values for IBRD and FBRD. For instance, in your project-conf.h you can do:
-
-        #define UART_CONF_BAUD_RATE 0
-
-* Provide custom values for `UART_CONF_IBRD` and `UART_CONF_FBRD` according to the guidelines in the CC2538 User Guide.
-
 RF and USB DMA
 --------------
 Transfers between RAM and the RF and USB will be conducted with DMA. If for whatever reason you wish to disable this, here are the relevant configuration lines.