diff --git a/sys/include/net/netopt.h b/sys/include/net/netopt.h
index 2f084a0c8c..3d24b2bcc1 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/netopt.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/netopt.h
@@ -270,6 +270,18 @@ typedef enum {
      */
     NETOPT_IS_WIRED,
 
+    /**
+     * @brief (@ref netopt_enable_t) Phy link status.
+     *
+     * Returns NETOPT_ENABLE when the the link of the interface is up,
+     * NETOPT_DISABLE when the link is down. If the interface is wireless or
+     * doesn't support link status detection this function will return
+     * -ENOTSUP.
+     *
+     * @note Setting this option will always return -ENOTSUP.
+     */
+    NETOPT_LINK_CONNECTED,
+
     /**
      * @brief get a device's "type", e.g., ethernet, 802.15.4, ...
      */
diff --git a/sys/net/crosslayer/netopt/netopt.c b/sys/net/crosslayer/netopt/netopt.c
index 6df4bd1d14..dfe7bc983a 100644
--- a/sys/net/crosslayer/netopt/netopt.c
+++ b/sys/net/crosslayer/netopt/netopt.c
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ static const char *_netopt_strmap[] = {
     [NETOPT_CSMA_MINBE]            = "NETOPT_CSMA_MINBE",
     [NETOPT_MAC_NO_SLEEP]          = "NETOPT_MAC_NO_SLEEP",
     [NETOPT_IS_WIRED]              = "NETOPT_IS_WIRED",
+    [NETOPT_LINK_CONNECTED]        = "NETOPT_LINK_CONNECTED",
     [NETOPT_DEVICE_TYPE]           = "NETOPT_DEVICE_TYPE",
     [NETOPT_CHANNEL_PAGE]          = "NETOPT_CHANNEL_PAGE",
     [NETOPT_CCA_THRESHOLD]         = "NETOPT_CCA_THRESHOLD",