diff --git a/sys/include/net/gnrc/ipv6/nib.h b/sys/include/net/gnrc/ipv6/nib.h
index 9e89d7f67d..2fbcf9ee67 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/gnrc/ipv6/nib.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/gnrc/ipv6/nib.h
@@ -233,6 +233,16 @@ extern "C" {
  * @note    Only handled with @ref CONFIG_GNRC_IPV6_NIB_DNS != 0
  */
 #define GNRC_IPV6_NIB_RDNSS_TIMEOUT         (0x4fd3U)
+
+/**
+ * @brief   Interface up event
+ */
+#define GNRC_IPV6_NIB_IFACE_UP              (0x4fd4U)
+
+/**
+ * @brief   Interface down event
+ */
+#define GNRC_IPV6_NIB_IFACE_DOWN            (0x4fd5U)
 /** @} */
 
 /**
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/gnrc_netif.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/gnrc_netif.c
index 648ac7670e..bf8df2d664 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/gnrc_netif.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/gnrc_netif.c
@@ -25,10 +25,8 @@
 #include "net/ethernet.h"
 #include "net/ipv6.h"
 #include "net/gnrc.h"
-#if IS_USED(MODULE_GNRC_IPV6_NIB)
 #include "net/gnrc/ipv6/nib.h"
 #include "net/gnrc/ipv6.h"
-#endif /* IS_USED(MODULE_GNRC_IPV6_NIB) */
 #if IS_USED(MODULE_GNRC_NETIF_PKTQ)
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/pktq.h"
 #endif /* IS_USED(MODULE_GNRC_NETIF_PKTQ) */
@@ -2052,14 +2050,20 @@ static void _event_cb(netdev_t *dev, netdev_event_t event)
         DEBUG("gnrc_netif: event triggered -> %i\n", event);
         gnrc_pktsnip_t *pkt = NULL;
         switch (event) {
-#if IS_USED(MODULE_GNRC_IPV6_NIB)
             case NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP:
-                gnrc_ipv6_nib_iface_up(netif);
+                if (IS_USED(MODULE_GNRC_IPV6)) {
+                    msg_t msg = { .type = GNRC_IPV6_NIB_IFACE_UP, .content = { .ptr = netif } };
+
+                    msg_send(&msg, gnrc_ipv6_pid);
+                }
                 break;
             case NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_DOWN:
-                gnrc_ipv6_nib_iface_down(netif, false);
+                if (IS_USED(MODULE_GNRC_IPV6)) {
+                    msg_t msg = { .type = GNRC_IPV6_NIB_IFACE_DOWN, .content = { .ptr = netif } };
+
+                    msg_send(&msg, gnrc_ipv6_pid);
+                }
                 break;
-#endif
             case NETDEV_EVENT_RX_COMPLETE:
                 pkt = netif->ops->recv(netif);
                 /* send packet previously queued within netif due to the lower
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/gnrc_ipv6.c b/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/gnrc_ipv6.c
index 89b03d98b0..a70f2e0783 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/gnrc_ipv6.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/gnrc_ipv6.c
@@ -244,6 +244,12 @@ static void *_event_loop(void *args)
                 DEBUG("ipv6: NIB timer event received\n");
                 gnrc_ipv6_nib_handle_timer_event(msg.content.ptr, msg.type);
                 break;
+            case GNRC_IPV6_NIB_IFACE_UP:
+                gnrc_ipv6_nib_iface_up(msg.content.ptr);
+                break;
+            case GNRC_IPV6_NIB_IFACE_DOWN:
+                gnrc_ipv6_nib_iface_down(msg.content.ptr, false);
+                break;
             default:
                 break;
         }