diff --git a/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif.h b/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif.h
index a6212e608b..9324a56a85 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif.h
@@ -217,6 +217,10 @@ typedef struct {
      */
     gnrc_netif_pktq_t send_queue;
 #endif
+    /**
+     * @brief   Message queue for the netif thread
+     */
+    msg_t msg_queue[GNRC_NETIF_MSG_QUEUE_SIZE];
     uint8_t cur_hl;                         /**< Current hop-limit for out-going packets */
     uint8_t device_type;                    /**< Device type */
     kernel_pid_t pid;                       /**< PID of the network interface's thread */
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/gnrc_netif.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/gnrc_netif.c
index bf8df2d664..51639946ce 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/gnrc_netif.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/gnrc_netif.c
@@ -1913,7 +1913,6 @@ static void *_gnrc_netif_thread(void *args)
     gnrc_netif_t *netif;
     int res;
     msg_t reply = { .type = GNRC_NETAPI_MSG_TYPE_ACK };
-    msg_t msg_queue[GNRC_NETIF_MSG_QUEUE_SIZE];
 
     DEBUG("gnrc_netif: starting thread %i\n", thread_getpid());
     netif = ctx->netif;
@@ -1928,7 +1927,7 @@ static void *_gnrc_netif_thread(void *args)
     event_queues_init(netif->evq, GNRC_NETIF_EVQ_NUMOF);
 
     /* setup the link-layer's message queue */
-    msg_init_queue(msg_queue, GNRC_NETIF_MSG_QUEUE_SIZE);
+    msg_init_queue(netif->msg_queue, ARRAY_SIZE(netif->msg_queue));
     /* initialize low-level driver */
     ctx->result = netif->ops->init(netif);
     /* signal that driver init is done */
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_atwinc15x0.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_atwinc15x0.c
index 50f558c87a..d19aadabee 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_atwinc15x0.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_atwinc15x0.c
@@ -23,12 +23,13 @@
 #include "atwinc15x0.h"
 #include "atwinc15x0_params.h"
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/ethernet.h"
+#include "include/init_devs.h"
 
 /**
  * @brief   Define stack parameters for the MAC layer thread
  * @{
  */
-#define ATWINC15X0_MAC_STACKSIZE    (THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT)
+#define ATWINC15X0_MAC_STACKSIZE    (GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT)
 #ifndef ATWINC15X0_MAC_PRIO
 #define ATWINC15X0_MAC_PRIO         (GNRC_NETIF_PRIO)
 #endif
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_cc110x.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_cc110x.c
index d5a85f3a1e..fba011a12c 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_cc110x.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_cc110x.c
@@ -23,28 +23,15 @@
 #include "cc1xxx_common.h"
 #include "cc110x_params.h"
 #include "log.h"
-#include "msg.h"
-#include "net/gnrc/netif/conf.h"    /* <- GNRC_NETIF_MSG_QUEUE_SIZE */
+#include "include/init_devs.h"
 
 #define ENABLE_DEBUG 0
 #include "debug.h"
 
-#ifndef CC110X_EXTRA_STACKSIZE
-/**
- * @brief   Additional stack size required by the driver
- *
- * With increasing of GNRC_NETIF_MSG_QUEUE_SIZE the required stack size
- * increases as well. A queue size of 8 messages works with default stack size,
- * so we increase the stack by `sizeof(msg_t)` for each additional element
- */
-#define CC110X_EXTRA_STACKSIZE          ((GNRC_NETIF_MSG_QUEUE_SIZE - 8) * sizeof(msg_t))
-#endif
-
 /**
  * @brief   Calculate the stack size for the MAC layer thread(s)
  */
-#define CC110X_MAC_STACKSIZE            (THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT + \
-                                        CC110X_EXTRA_STACKSIZE + \
+#define CC110X_MAC_STACKSIZE            (GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT + \
                                         DEBUG_EXTRA_STACKSIZE)
 #ifndef CC110X_MAC_PRIO
 /**
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_dose.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_dose.c
index fa56a5edc8..8a931dc380 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_dose.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_dose.c
@@ -22,12 +22,13 @@
 #include "dose.h"
 #include "dose_params.h"
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/ethernet.h"
+#include "include/init_devs.h"
 
 /**
  * @brief   Define stack parameters for the MAC layer thread
  * @{
  */
-#define DOSE_MAC_STACKSIZE (THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT + DEBUG_EXTRA_STACKSIZE)
+#define DOSE_MAC_STACKSIZE (GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT + DEBUG_EXTRA_STACKSIZE)
 #ifndef DOSE_MAC_PRIO
 #define DOSE_MAC_PRIO      (GNRC_NETIF_PRIO)
 #endif
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_enc28j60.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_enc28j60.c
index f3fb0e9ee6..e0000e8809 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_enc28j60.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_enc28j60.c
@@ -23,12 +23,13 @@
 #include "enc28j60.h"
 #include "enc28j60_params.h"
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/ethernet.h"
+#include "include/init_devs.h"
 
 /**
  * @brief   Define stack parameters for the MAC layer thread
  * @{
  */
-#define ENC28J60_MAC_STACKSIZE   (THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT)
+#define ENC28J60_MAC_STACKSIZE   (GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT)
 #ifndef ENC28J60_MAC_PRIO
 #define ENC28J60_MAC_PRIO        (GNRC_NETIF_PRIO)
 #endif
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_encx24j600.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_encx24j600.c
index 8d8075e08a..0bbd1dd6c7 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_encx24j600.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_encx24j600.c
@@ -22,12 +22,13 @@
 #include "encx24j600.h"
 #include "encx24j600_params.h"
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/ethernet.h"
+#include "include/init_devs.h"
 
 /**
  * @brief   Define stack parameters for the MAC layer thread
  * @{
  */
-#define ENCX24J600_MAC_STACKSIZE    (THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT + DEBUG_EXTRA_STACKSIZE)
+#define ENCX24J600_MAC_STACKSIZE    (GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT + DEBUG_EXTRA_STACKSIZE)
 #ifndef ENCX24J600_MAC_PRIO
 #define ENCX24J600_MAC_PRIO         (GNRC_NETIF_PRIO)
 #endif
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_esp_eth.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_esp_eth.c
index 0337aa6549..c6fd929115 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_esp_eth.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_esp_eth.c
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include "esp_eth_params.h"
 #include "esp_eth_netdev.h"
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/ethernet.h"
+#include "include/init_devs.h"
 
 static gnrc_netif_t _netif;
 
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_ethos.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_ethos.c
index 65629bffe8..4fd4e6ffe6 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_ethos.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_ethos.c
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "ethos_params.h"
 #include "periph/uart.h"
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/ethernet.h"
+#include "include/init_devs.h"
 
 #define ETHOS_NUM ARRAY_SIZE(ethos_params)
 
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ static gnrc_netif_t _netif[ETHOS_NUM];
  * @brief   Define stack parameters for the MAC layer thread
  * @{
  */
-#define ETHOS_MAC_STACKSIZE (THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT + DEBUG_EXTRA_STACKSIZE)
+#define ETHOS_MAC_STACKSIZE (GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT + DEBUG_EXTRA_STACKSIZE)
 #ifndef ETHOS_MAC_PRIO
 #define ETHOS_MAC_PRIO      (GNRC_NETIF_PRIO)
 #endif
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_netdev_tap.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_netdev_tap.c
index ea34968d45..f23a58aceb 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_netdev_tap.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_netdev_tap.c
@@ -21,8 +21,9 @@
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "netdev_tap_params.h"
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/ethernet.h"
+#include "include/init_devs.h"
 
-#define TAP_MAC_STACKSIZE           (THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT + DEBUG_EXTRA_STACKSIZE)
+#define TAP_MAC_STACKSIZE           (GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT + DEBUG_EXTRA_STACKSIZE)
 #define TAP_MAC_PRIO                (GNRC_NETIF_PRIO)
 
 static netdev_tap_t netdev_tap[NETDEV_TAP_MAX];
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_nrf24l01p_ng.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_nrf24l01p_ng.c
index b8eb5a39a6..08b12ac5d6 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_nrf24l01p_ng.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_nrf24l01p_ng.c
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 #include "log.h"
 #include "msg.h"
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/conf.h"
+#include "include/init_devs.h"
+
 #define ENABLE_DEBUG 0
 #include "debug.h"
 
@@ -42,7 +44,7 @@
 /**
  * @brief   Calculate the stack size for the MAC layer thread(s)
  */
-#define NRF24L01P_NG_MAC_STACKSIZE          (THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT + \
+#define NRF24L01P_NG_MAC_STACKSIZE          (GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT + \
                                             NRF24L01P_NG_EXTRA_STACKSIZE + \
                                             DEBUG_EXTRA_STACKSIZE)
 #ifndef NRF24L01P_NG_MAC_PRIO
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_sam0_eth.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_sam0_eth.c
index 422ee94612..3e10355036 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_sam0_eth.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_sam0_eth.c
@@ -19,9 +19,10 @@
 
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/ethernet.h"
 #include "sam0_eth_netdev.h"
+#include "include/init_devs.h"
 
 static netdev_t sam0eth;
-static char stack[THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT];
+static char stack[GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT];
 static gnrc_netif_t _netif;
 
 void auto_init_sam0_eth(void)
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ void auto_init_sam0_eth(void)
     /* setup netdev device */
     sam0_eth_setup(&sam0eth);
     /* initialize netdev <-> gnrc adapter state */
-    gnrc_netif_ethernet_create(&_netif, stack, THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT,
+    gnrc_netif_ethernet_create(&_netif, stack, GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT,
                                GNRC_NETIF_PRIO, "sam0_eth", &sam0eth);
 }
 
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_slipdev.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_slipdev.c
index 844b2f1130..d6f953e3d1 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_slipdev.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_slipdev.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include "board.h"
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/raw.h"
 #include "net/gnrc.h"
+#include "include/init_devs.h"
 
 #include "slipdev.h"
 #include "slipdev_params.h"
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@
  * @brief   Define stack parameters for the MAC layer thread
  * @{
  */
-#define SLIPDEV_STACKSIZE       (THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT)
+#define SLIPDEV_STACKSIZE       (GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT)
 #ifndef SLIPDEV_PRIO
 #define SLIPDEV_PRIO            (GNRC_NETIF_PRIO)
 #endif
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_stm32_eth.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_stm32_eth.c
index 9f94205bf4..380750d521 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_stm32_eth.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_stm32_eth.c
@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@
 
 #include "stm32_eth.h"
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/ethernet.h"
+#include "include/init_devs.h"
 
 static netdev_t stm32eth;
-static char stack[THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT];
+static char stack[GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT];
 static gnrc_netif_t _netif;
 
 void auto_init_stm32_eth(void)
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ void auto_init_stm32_eth(void)
   /* setup netdev device */
   stm32_eth_netdev_setup(&stm32eth);
         /* initialize netdev <-> gnrc adapter state */
-  gnrc_netif_ethernet_create(&_netif, stack, THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT, GNRC_NETIF_PRIO, "stm32_eth",
+  gnrc_netif_ethernet_create(&_netif, stack, GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT, GNRC_NETIF_PRIO, "stm32_eth",
                              &stm32eth);
 }
 /** @} */
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_sx126x.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_sx126x.c
index c278d5c9da..e9a5b29447 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_sx126x.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_sx126x.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/lorawan_base.h"
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/raw.h"
 #include "net/gnrc.h"
+#include "include/init_devs.h"
 
 #include "sx126x.h"
 #include "sx126x_params.h"
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@
 /**
  * @brief   Define stack parameters for the MAC layer thread
  */
-#define SX126X_STACKSIZE            (THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT)
+#define SX126X_STACKSIZE            (GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT)
 #ifndef SX126X_PRIO
 #define SX126X_PRIO                 (GNRC_NETIF_PRIO)
 #endif
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_sx127x.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_sx127x.c
index 74d99bde00..b13c21208a 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_sx127x.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_sx127x.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/lorawan_base.h"
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/raw.h"
 #include "net/gnrc.h"
+#include "include/init_devs.h"
 
 #include "sx127x.h"
 #include "sx127x_params.h"
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@
 /**
  * @brief   Define stack parameters for the MAC layer thread
  */
-#define SX127X_STACKSIZE           (THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT)
+#define SX127X_STACKSIZE           (GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT)
 #ifndef SX127X_PRIO
 #define SX127X_PRIO                (GNRC_NETIF_PRIO)
 #endif
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_usbus_cdc_ecm.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_usbus_cdc_ecm.c
index 8e1db4a7e2..8c6516f952 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_usbus_cdc_ecm.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_usbus_cdc_ecm.c
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include "log.h"
 #include "usb/usbus/cdc/ecm.h"
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/ethernet.h"
+#include "include/init_devs.h"
 
 /**
  * @brief global cdc ecm object, declared in the usb auto init file
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ extern usbus_cdcecm_device_t cdcecm;
  * @brief   Define stack parameters for the MAC layer thread
  * @{
  */
-#define CDCECM_MAC_STACKSIZE (THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT)
+#define CDCECM_MAC_STACKSIZE (GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT)
 #ifndef CDCECM_MAC_PRIO
 #define CDCECM_MAC_PRIO      (GNRC_NETIF_PRIO)
 #endif
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_w5100.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_w5100.c
index 7ea674c200..81f58a9b89 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_w5100.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_w5100.c
@@ -21,12 +21,13 @@
 #include "w5100.h"
 #include "w5100_params.h"
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/ethernet.h"
+#include "include/init_devs.h"
 
 /**
  * @brief   Define stack parameters for the MAC layer thread
  * @{
  */
-#define MAC_STACKSIZE   (THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT)
+#define MAC_STACKSIZE   (GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT)
 #define MAC_PRIO        (GNRC_NETIF_PRIO)
 /*** @} */
 
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_xbee.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_xbee.c
index e85ccb9a23..d7df66a82f 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_xbee.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/auto_init_xbee.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "gnrc_netif_xbee.h"
 #include "xbee.h"
 #include "xbee_params.h"
+#include "include/init_devs.h"
 
 /**
  * @brief   Calculate the number of configured XBee devices
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@
 /**
  * @brief   Define stack parameters for the MAC layer thread
  */
-#define XBEE_MAC_STACKSIZE           (THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT)
+#define XBEE_MAC_STACKSIZE           (GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT)
 #ifndef XBEE_MAC_PRIO
 #define XBEE_MAC_PRIO                (GNRC_NETIF_PRIO)
 #endif
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/include/init_devs.h b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/include/init_devs.h
index 41cd2eb3dc..bc09d29216 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/include/init_devs.h
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/init_devs/include/init_devs.h
@@ -20,29 +20,41 @@
 #define INIT_DEVS_H
 
 #include "thread.h"
+#include "msg.h"
+#include "net/gnrc/netif/conf.h"    /* <- GNRC_NETIF_MSG_QUEUE_SIZE */
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
+/**
+ * @brief   stack size of a netif thread
+ *
+ *          Message queue was previously allocated on the stack, reduce
+ *          stack size by default msg queue size to keep the RAM use the same
+ */
+#ifndef GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT
+#define GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT    (THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT - 128)
+#endif
+
 /**
  * @brief   extra stack size if ieee802154 security is enabled
  *
  * You may increase this value if you experience a stack overflow
  * with IEEE 802.15.4 security enabled.
  */
+#ifdef MODULE_IEEE802154_SECURITY
 #define IEEE802154_SECURITY_EXTRA_STACKSIZE (128)
+#else
+#define IEEE802154_SECURITY_EXTRA_STACKSIZE (0)
+#endif
 
 #ifndef IEEE802154_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT
-#ifdef MODULE_IEEE802154_SECURITY
-#define IEEE802154_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT    (THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT + \
-                                        IEEE802154_SECURITY_EXTRA_STACKSIZE)
-#else
 /**
  * @brief   stack size of an ieee802154 device
  */
-#define IEEE802154_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT    (THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT)
-#endif
+#define IEEE802154_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT    (GNRC_NETIF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT + \
+                                         IEEE802154_SECURITY_EXTRA_STACKSIZE)
 #endif
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
diff --git a/tests/netutils/Makefile b/tests/netutils/Makefile
index d16766d6a3..08b0d8b799 100644
--- a/tests/netutils/Makefile
+++ b/tests/netutils/Makefile
@@ -14,4 +14,7 @@ USEMODULE += ipv6_addr
 
 USEMODULE += sock_dns_mock
 
+# We don't actually run the mock netifs
+CFLAGS += -DGNRC_NETIF_MSG_QUEUE_SIZE=1
+
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include