diff --git a/sys/net/rpl/rpl_structs.h b/sys/net/rpl/rpl_structs.h
index 68ad797251..f95e2eb08c 100644
--- a/sys/net/rpl/rpl_structs.h
+++ b/sys/net/rpl/rpl_structs.h
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@
 #define RPL_MAX_INSTANCES 1
 #define RPL_MAX_PARENTS 5
 #define RPL_MAX_ROUTING_ENTRIES 128
-#define RPL_ROOT_RANK 1
+#define RPL_ROOT_RANK 256
 #define RPL_DEFAULT_LIFETIME 0xff
 #define RPL_LIFETIME_UNIT 2
 #define RPL_GROUNDED 1