diff --git a/sys/include/net/gnrc/rpl.h b/sys/include/net/gnrc/rpl.h
index 009ca10f35..bd240a05bc 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/gnrc/rpl.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/gnrc/rpl.h
@@ -289,8 +289,8 @@ static inline bool GNRC_RPL_COUNTER_GREATER_THAN(uint8_t A, uint8_t B)
         </a>
  * @{
  */
-#ifndef GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_LIFETIME
-#define GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_LIFETIME (5)
+#ifndef CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_LIFETIME
+#define CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_LIFETIME (5)
 #endif
 #ifndef GNRC_RPL_LIFETIME_UNIT
 #define GNRC_RPL_LIFETIME_UNIT (60)
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl.c b/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl.c
index 6b60155f05..f69aa376f5 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl.c
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ gnrc_rpl_instance_t *gnrc_rpl_root_init(uint8_t instance_id, ipv6_addr_t *dodag_
     dodag->dio_interval_doubl = CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_DIO_INTERVAL_DOUBLINGS;
     dodag->dio_min = CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_DIO_INTERVAL_MIN;
     dodag->dio_redun = CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_DIO_REDUNDANCY_CONSTANT;
-    dodag->default_lifetime = GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_LIFETIME;
+    dodag->default_lifetime = CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_LIFETIME;
     dodag->lifetime_unit = GNRC_RPL_LIFETIME_UNIT;
     dodag->version = GNRC_RPL_COUNTER_INIT;
     dodag->grounded = GNRC_RPL_GROUNDED;
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl_dodag.c b/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl_dodag.c
index 8831f137d6..dbcbebd724 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl_dodag.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl_dodag.c
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ bool gnrc_rpl_dodag_init(gnrc_rpl_instance_t *instance, ipv6_addr_t *dodag_id, k
     dodag->dio_interval_doubl = CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_DIO_INTERVAL_DOUBLINGS;
     dodag->dio_min = CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_DIO_INTERVAL_MIN;
     dodag->dio_redun = CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_DIO_REDUNDANCY_CONSTANT;
-    dodag->default_lifetime = GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_LIFETIME;
+    dodag->default_lifetime = CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_LIFETIME;
     dodag->lifetime_unit = GNRC_RPL_LIFETIME_UNIT;
     dodag->node_status = GNRC_RPL_NORMAL_NODE;
     dodag->dao_seq = GNRC_RPL_COUNTER_INIT;