diff --git a/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif/internal.h b/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif/internal.h
index 42bed06616..b686a59d10 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif/internal.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif/internal.h
@@ -329,6 +329,17 @@ static inline bool gnrc_netif_is_rtr_adv(const gnrc_netif_t *netif)
 #define gnrc_netif_is_rtr_adv(netif)            (false)
 #endif
 
+/**
+ * @brief   Checks if the device type associated to a @ref gnrc_netif_t
+ *          requires 6Lo to run
+ *
+ * @param[in] netif the network interface
+ *
+ * @return true if the device requires 6Lo
+ * @return false otherwise
+ */
+bool gnrc_netif_dev_is_6lo(const gnrc_netif_t *netif);
+
 /**
  * @brief   Checks if the interface uses a protocol that requires 6Lo to run
  *
@@ -351,20 +362,7 @@ static inline bool gnrc_netif_is_6lo(const gnrc_netif_t *netif)
     if ((!gnrc_netif_highlander() &&
        IS_USED(MODULE_GNRC_SIXLOWPAN)) || \
        IS_USED(MODULE_GNRC_SIXLOENC)) {
-        switch (netif->device_type) {
-#ifdef MODULE_GNRC_SIXLOENC
-            case NETDEV_TYPE_ETHERNET:
-                return (netif->flags & GNRC_NETIF_FLAGS_6LO);
-#endif
-            case NETDEV_TYPE_IEEE802154:
-            case NETDEV_TYPE_CC110X:
-            case NETDEV_TYPE_BLE:
-            case NETDEV_TYPE_NRFMIN:
-            case NETDEV_TYPE_ESP_NOW:
-                return true;
-            default:
-                return false;
-        }
+        return gnrc_netif_dev_is_6lo(netif);
     }
     else if (gnrc_netif_highlander() && IS_USED(MODULE_GNRC_SIXLOWPAN)) {
         return true;
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/gnrc_netif.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/gnrc_netif.c
index a1ce961e62..cc8196b11e 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/gnrc_netif.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/gnrc_netif.c
@@ -74,6 +74,24 @@ gnrc_netif_t *gnrc_netif_create(char *stack, int stacksize, char priority,
     return netif;
 }
 
+bool gnrc_netif_dev_is_6lo(const gnrc_netif_t *netif)
+{
+    switch (netif->device_type) {
+#ifdef MODULE_GNRC_SIXLOENC
+        case NETDEV_TYPE_ETHERNET:
+            return (netif->flags & GNRC_NETIF_FLAGS_6LO);
+#endif
+        case NETDEV_TYPE_IEEE802154:
+        case NETDEV_TYPE_CC110X:
+        case NETDEV_TYPE_BLE:
+        case NETDEV_TYPE_NRFMIN:
+        case NETDEV_TYPE_ESP_NOW:
+            return true;
+        default:
+            return false;
+    }
+}
+
 unsigned gnrc_netif_numof(void)
 {
     gnrc_netif_t *netif = NULL;