diff --git a/cpu/cc2538/radio/cc2538_rf_netdev.c b/cpu/cc2538/radio/cc2538_rf_netdev.c
index 71f6206c86..387abb9fb3 100644
--- a/cpu/cc2538/radio/cc2538_rf_netdev.c
+++ b/cpu/cc2538/radio/cc2538_rf_netdev.c
@@ -367,24 +367,20 @@ static int _init(netdev_t *netdev)
     uint16_t addr_short = cc2538_get_addr_short();
     uint64_t addr_long = cc2538_get_addr_long();
 
+    netdev_ieee802154_reset(&dev->netdev);
+
     /* Initialise netdev_ieee802154_t struct */
-    netdev_ieee802154_set((netdev_ieee802154_t *)netdev, NETOPT_NID, &pan,
-                          sizeof(pan));
-    netdev_ieee802154_set((netdev_ieee802154_t *)netdev, NETOPT_CHANNEL, &chan,
-                          sizeof(chan));
-    netdev_ieee802154_set((netdev_ieee802154_t *)netdev, NETOPT_ADDRESS,
+    netdev_ieee802154_set(&dev->netdev, NETOPT_NID,
+                          &pan, sizeof(pan));
+    netdev_ieee802154_set(&dev->netdev, NETOPT_CHANNEL,
+                          &chan, sizeof(chan));
+    netdev_ieee802154_set(&dev->netdev, NETOPT_ADDRESS,
                           &addr_short, sizeof(addr_short));
-    netdev_ieee802154_set((netdev_ieee802154_t *)netdev, NETOPT_ADDRESS_LONG,
+    netdev_ieee802154_set(&dev->netdev, NETOPT_ADDRESS_LONG,
                           &addr_long, sizeof(addr_long));
 
     cc2538_set_state(dev, NETOPT_STATE_IDLE);
 
-    /* set default protocol */
-#ifdef MODULE_GNRC_SIXLOWPAN
-    dev->netdev.proto = GNRC_NETTYPE_SIXLOWPAN;
-#elif MODULE_GNRC
-    dev->netdev.proto = GNRC_NETTYPE_UNDEF;
-#endif
 #ifdef MODULE_NETSTATS_L2
     memset(&netdev->stats, 0, sizeof(netstats_t));
 #endif