diff --git a/cpu/esp_common/esp-now/esp_now_netdev.c b/cpu/esp_common/esp-now/esp_now_netdev.c
index b4da397604..97b44f44b1 100644
--- a/cpu/esp_common/esp-now/esp_now_netdev.c
+++ b/cpu/esp_common/esp-now/esp_now_netdev.c
@@ -487,6 +487,9 @@ static int _init(netdev_t *netdev)
 {
     DEBUG("%s: %p\n", __func__, netdev);
 
+    /* signal link UP */
+    netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/cpu/native/netdev_tap/netdev_tap.c b/cpu/native/netdev_tap/netdev_tap.c
index bb6fd0fe35..531e17e849 100644
--- a/cpu/native/netdev_tap/netdev_tap.c
+++ b/cpu/native/netdev_tap/netdev_tap.c
@@ -404,5 +404,9 @@ static int _init(netdev_t *netdev)
     native_async_read_add_handler(dev->tap_fd, netdev, _tap_isr);
 
     DEBUG("gnrc_tapnet: initialized.\n");
+
+    /* signal link UP */
+    netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/cpu/nrf5x_common/radio/nrfble/nrfble.c b/cpu/nrf5x_common/radio/nrfble/nrfble.c
index ba08feeb0f..01b6a2ca75 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf5x_common/radio/nrfble/nrfble.c
+++ b/cpu/nrf5x_common/radio/nrfble/nrfble.c
@@ -279,6 +279,10 @@ static int _nrfble_init(netdev_t *dev)
     NVIC_EnableIRQ(RADIO_IRQn);
 
     DEBUG("[nrfble] initialization successful\n");
+
+    /* signal link UP */
+    dev->event_callback(dev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/cpu/nrf5x_common/radio/nrfmin/nrfmin.c b/cpu/nrf5x_common/radio/nrfmin/nrfmin.c
index 7eed0e09a6..a5dc012445 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf5x_common/radio/nrfmin/nrfmin.c
+++ b/cpu/nrf5x_common/radio/nrfmin/nrfmin.c
@@ -448,6 +448,9 @@ static int nrfmin_init(netdev_t *dev)
 
     DEBUG("[nrfmin] initialization successful\n");
 
+    /* signal link UP */
+    dev->event_callback(dev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/cpu/sam0_common/sam0_eth/eth-netdev.c b/cpu/sam0_common/sam0_eth/eth-netdev.c
index 6dbb605f06..f73073dbe2 100644
--- a/cpu/sam0_common/sam0_eth/eth-netdev.c
+++ b/cpu/sam0_common/sam0_eth/eth-netdev.c
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ static int _sam0_eth_init(netdev_t *netdev)
     eui48_t hwaddr;
     netdev_eui48_get(netdev, &hwaddr);
     sam0_eth_set_mac(&hwaddr);
+
+    /* signal link UP */
+    netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/cpu/stm32/periph/eth.c b/cpu/stm32/periph/eth.c
index 43d7e1628e..27d7ecd9ae 100644
--- a/cpu/stm32/periph/eth.c
+++ b/cpu/stm32/periph/eth.c
@@ -460,6 +460,11 @@ static int stm32_eth_init(netdev_t *netdev)
 
     _setup_phy();
 
+    /* signal link UP if no proper link detection is enabled */
+    if (!IS_USED(MODULE_STM32_ETH_LINK_UP)) {
+        netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+    }
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/at86rf215/at86rf215_netdev.c b/drivers/at86rf215/at86rf215_netdev.c
index 5a2ce1f6ba..58b1b02f95 100644
--- a/drivers/at86rf215/at86rf215_netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/at86rf215/at86rf215_netdev.c
@@ -137,6 +137,9 @@ static int _init(netdev_t *netdev)
     /* reset device to default values and put it into RX state */
     at86rf215_reset_and_cfg(dev);
 
+    /* signal link UP */
+    netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx_netdev.c b/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx_netdev.c
index ae5e32a989..5d387b2403 100644
--- a/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx_netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/at86rf2xx/at86rf2xx_netdev.c
@@ -108,6 +108,9 @@ static int _init(netdev_t *netdev)
     /* reset device to default values and put it into RX state */
     at86rf2xx_reset(dev);
 
+    /* signal link UP */
+    netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/cc110x/cc110x_netdev.c b/drivers/cc110x/cc110x_netdev.c
index a2d56abbfe..5d66fc856a 100644
--- a/drivers/cc110x/cc110x_netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/cc110x/cc110x_netdev.c
@@ -343,6 +343,10 @@ static int cc110x_init(netdev_t *netdev)
     }
 
     DEBUG("[cc110x] netdev_driver_t::init(): Success\n");
+
+    /* signal link UP */
+    netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/cc2420/cc2420_netdev.c b/drivers/cc2420/cc2420_netdev.c
index 82c3e64718..bf05998b5b 100644
--- a/drivers/cc2420/cc2420_netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/cc2420/cc2420_netdev.c
@@ -136,7 +136,13 @@ static int _init(netdev_t *netdev)
         return -1;
     }
 
-    return cc2420_init(dev);
+    int res = cc2420_init(dev);
+    if (res == 0) {
+        /* signal link UP */
+        netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+    }
+
+    return res;
 }
 
 static void _isr(netdev_t *netdev)
diff --git a/drivers/dose/dose.c b/drivers/dose/dose.c
index cf17d128bf..2c1e8effef 100644
--- a/drivers/dose/dose.c
+++ b/drivers/dose/dose.c
@@ -761,6 +761,8 @@ static int _init(netdev_t *dev)
 
     state(ctx, DOSE_SIGNAL_INIT);
 
+    dev->event_callback(dev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/ethos/ethos.c b/drivers/ethos/ethos.c
index 6df510b229..69f5763f78 100644
--- a/drivers/ethos/ethos.c
+++ b/drivers/ethos/ethos.c
@@ -211,9 +211,11 @@ static void _isr(netdev_t *netdev)
     netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_RX_COMPLETE);
 }
 
-static int _init(netdev_t *encdev)
+static int _init(netdev_t *netdev)
 {
-    (void)encdev;
+    /* signal link UP */
+    netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/kw41zrf/kw41zrf_netdev.c b/drivers/kw41zrf/kw41zrf_netdev.c
index f5d9e170cf..c8910b1bba 100644
--- a/drivers/kw41zrf/kw41zrf_netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/kw41zrf/kw41zrf_netdev.c
@@ -100,6 +100,9 @@ static int kw41zrf_netdev_init(netdev_t *netdev)
         return -1;
     }
 
+    /* signal link UP */
+    netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/mrf24j40/mrf24j40_netdev.c b/drivers/mrf24j40/mrf24j40_netdev.c
index 098b1c852e..e11fa4064f 100644
--- a/drivers/mrf24j40/mrf24j40_netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/mrf24j40/mrf24j40_netdev.c
@@ -64,6 +64,9 @@ static int _init(netdev_t *netdev)
         return -ENODEV;
     }
 
+    /* signal link UP */
+    netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/netdev_ieee802154_submac/netdev_ieee802154_submac.c b/drivers/netdev_ieee802154_submac/netdev_ieee802154_submac.c
index d5692a5f57..8d54906d7e 100644
--- a/drivers/netdev_ieee802154_submac/netdev_ieee802154_submac.c
+++ b/drivers/netdev_ieee802154_submac/netdev_ieee802154_submac.c
@@ -365,6 +365,10 @@ static int _init(netdev_t *netdev)
                           &enable, sizeof(enable));
 
     netdev_submac->dev.txpower = tx_power;
+
+    /* signal link UP */
+    netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/nrf24l01p_ng/nrf24l01p_ng_netdev.c b/drivers/nrf24l01p_ng/nrf24l01p_ng_netdev.c
index c3ddd71425..aef405d429 100644
--- a/drivers/nrf24l01p_ng/nrf24l01p_ng_netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/nrf24l01p_ng/nrf24l01p_ng_netdev.c
@@ -255,6 +255,10 @@ static int _init(netdev_t *netdev)
         DEBUG_PUTS("[nrf24l01p_ng] _init(): gpio_init_int() failed");
         return -EIO;
     }
+
+    /* signal link UP */
+    netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/slipdev/slipdev.c b/drivers/slipdev/slipdev.c
index e120b8deb9..1823d54d17 100644
--- a/drivers/slipdev/slipdev.c
+++ b/drivers/slipdev/slipdev.c
@@ -88,6 +88,10 @@ static int _init(netdev_t *netdev)
                   dev->config.uart, dev->config.baudrate);
         return -ENODEV;
     }
+
+    /* signal link UP */
+    netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/sx126x/sx126x_netdev.c b/drivers/sx126x/sx126x_netdev.c
index 6940e20a0b..306a1692a4 100644
--- a/drivers/sx126x/sx126x_netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/sx126x/sx126x_netdev.c
@@ -141,6 +141,10 @@ static int _init(netdev_t *netdev)
     }
 
     DEBUG("[sx126x] netdev: initialization successful\n");
+
+    /* signal link UP */
+    netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/sx127x/sx127x_netdev.c b/drivers/sx127x/sx127x_netdev.c
index c2091fea26..9114caa0d6 100644
--- a/drivers/sx127x/sx127x_netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/sx127x/sx127x_netdev.c
@@ -229,6 +229,9 @@ static int _init(netdev_t *netdev)
 
     DEBUG("[sx127x] netdev: initialization done\n");
 
+    /* signal link UP */
+    netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/sx1280/sx1280_netdev.c b/drivers/sx1280/sx1280_netdev.c
index 4c48fd6244..4b55bc75de 100644
--- a/drivers/sx1280/sx1280_netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/sx1280/sx1280_netdev.c
@@ -149,6 +149,10 @@ static int _init(netdev_t *netdev)
     }
 
     DEBUG("[sx1280] netdev: initialization successful\n");
+
+    /* signal link UP */
+    netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/w5100/w5100.c b/drivers/w5100/w5100.c
index 3b13d6d446..d5c2b4bd59 100644
--- a/drivers/w5100/w5100.c
+++ b/drivers/w5100/w5100.c
@@ -180,6 +180,9 @@ static int init(netdev_t *netdev)
     /* release the SPI bus again */
     spi_release(dev->p.spi);
 
+    /* signal link UP */
+    netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/xbee/xbee.c b/drivers/xbee/xbee.c
index 930b670057..7dcbb718d9 100644
--- a/drivers/xbee/xbee.c
+++ b/drivers/xbee/xbee.c
@@ -639,6 +639,10 @@ int xbee_init(netdev_t *dev)
     }
 
     DEBUG("[xbee] init: Initialization successful\n");
+
+    /* signal link UP */
+    dev->event_callback(dev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/sys/usb/usbus/cdc/ecm/cdc_ecm_netdev.c b/sys/usb/usbus/cdc/ecm/cdc_ecm_netdev.c
index b7a8d81535..906ab9f2d0 100644
--- a/sys/usb/usbus/cdc/ecm/cdc_ecm_netdev.c
+++ b/sys/usb/usbus/cdc/ecm/cdc_ecm_netdev.c
@@ -155,6 +155,9 @@ static int _init(netdev_t *netdev)
 
     netdev_eui48_get(netdev, (eui48_t*)&cdcecm->mac_netdev);
 
+    /* signal link UP */
+    netdev->event_callback(netdev, NETDEV_EVENT_LINK_UP);
+
     return 0;
 }