diff --git a/boards/common/iotlab/Makefile.features b/boards/common/iotlab/Makefile.features
index 585c145de0..971d6f9f3e 100644
--- a/boards/common/iotlab/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/common/iotlab/Makefile.features
@@ -12,3 +12,4 @@ FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_uart
 # Put other features for this board (in alphabetical order)
 FEATURES_PROVIDED += riotboot
 FEATURES_PROVIDED += netif
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += netif_openwsn # at86rf2xx is supported by OpenWSN
diff --git a/boards/hamilton/Makefile.features b/boards/hamilton/Makefile.features
index abee17d618..78903377fd 100644
--- a/boards/hamilton/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/hamilton/Makefile.features
@@ -13,3 +13,4 @@ FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_timer
 
 # Put other features for this board (in alphabetical order)
 FEATURES_PROVIDED += netif
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += netif_openwsn # at86rf2xx is supported by OpenWSN
diff --git a/boards/mulle/Makefile.features b/boards/mulle/Makefile.features
index e520bff113..d88aafc981 100644
--- a/boards/mulle/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/mulle/Makefile.features
@@ -21,3 +21,4 @@ FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_uart
 
 # Put other features for this board (in alphabetical order)
 FEATURES_PROVIDED += netif
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += netif_openwsn # at86rf2xx is supported by OpenWSN
diff --git a/boards/samr21-xpro/Makefile.features b/boards/samr21-xpro/Makefile.features
index 632f01d34c..1516d02379 100644
--- a/boards/samr21-xpro/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/samr21-xpro/Makefile.features
@@ -15,5 +15,6 @@ FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_usbdev
 
 # Put other features for this board (in alphabetical order)
 FEATURES_PROVIDED += netif
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += netif_openwsn # at86rf2xx is supported by OpenWSN
 FEATURES_PROVIDED += riotboot
 FEATURES_PROVIDED += tinyusb_device
diff --git a/boards/samr30-xpro/Makefile.features b/boards/samr30-xpro/Makefile.features
index 4ecf0e4d35..69110b22fd 100644
--- a/boards/samr30-xpro/Makefile.features
+++ b/boards/samr30-xpro/Makefile.features
@@ -13,5 +13,6 @@ FEATURES_PROVIDED += periph_usbdev
 
 # Put other features for this board (in alphabetical order)
 FEATURES_PROVIDED += netif
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += netif_openwsn # at86rf2xx is supported by OpenWSN
 FEATURES_PROVIDED += riotboot
 FEATURES_PROVIDED += tinyusb_device
diff --git a/cpu/cc2538/Makefile.features b/cpu/cc2538/Makefile.features
index b4a08c7297..fa66554233 100644
--- a/cpu/cc2538/Makefile.features
+++ b/cpu/cc2538/Makefile.features
@@ -17,5 +17,7 @@ FEATURES_PROVIDED += cortexm_mpu
 
 # MCU has a peripheral network interface
 FEATURES_PROVIDED += netif
+# the integrated netif is supported by OpenWSN
+FEATURES_PROVIDED += netif_openwsn
 
 include $(RIOTCPU)/cortexm_common/Makefile.features
diff --git a/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.features b/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.features
index 06b9573103..70e56f6b32 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.features
+++ b/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.features
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ CPU_FAM  = nrf52
 # The 802.15.4 radio is not available on all SoCs
 ifneq (,$(filter nrf52811xxaa nrf52820xxaa nrf52833xxaa nrf52840xxaa,$(CPU_MODEL)))
   FEATURES_PROVIDED += radio_nrf802154
+  # the nrf802154 driver is supported by OpenWSN
+  FEATURES_PROVIDED += netif_openwsn
 endif
 
 # crypto features
diff --git a/features.yaml b/features.yaml
index 3827b59357..7ce8ffe75d 100644
--- a/features.yaml
+++ b/features.yaml
@@ -881,6 +881,8 @@ groups:
     help: The board has a network interface
   - name: netif_ethernet
     help: The board has an Ethernet network interface
+  - name: netif_openwsn
+    help: The board has a network interface suitable for OpenWSN
   - name: highlevel_stdio
     help: A high-level stdio method (such as CDC ACM) is used. This requires a
           running thread and set-up and will not print during a crash.
diff --git a/makefiles/features_existing.inc.mk b/makefiles/features_existing.inc.mk
index 093673aac3..9fdd0f6424 100644
--- a/makefiles/features_existing.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/features_existing.inc.mk
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ FEATURES_EXISTING := \
     motor_driver \
     netif \
     netif_ethernet \
+    netif_openwsn \
     newlib \
     no_idle_thread \
     periph_adc \