diff --git a/drivers/include/sx127x.h b/drivers/include/sx127x.h
index 3ebd2f641e..9d200d0a64 100644
--- a/drivers/include/sx127x.h
+++ b/drivers/include/sx127x.h
@@ -281,6 +281,26 @@ uint32_t sx127x_random(sx127x_t *dev);
  */
 void sx127x_start_cad(sx127x_t *dev);
 
+/**
+ * @brief   Checks that channel is free with specified RSSI threshold.
+ *
+ * @param[in] dev                      The sx127x device structure pointer
+ * @param[in] freq                     channel RF frequency
+ * @param[in] rssi_threshold           RSSI threshold
+ *
+ * @return true if channel is free, false otherwise
+ */
+bool sx127x_is_channel_free(sx127x_t *dev, uint32_t freq, int16_t rssi_threshold);
+
+/**
+ * @brief   Reads the current RSSI value.
+ *
+ * @param[in] dev                      The sx127x device structure pointer
+ *
+ * @return the current value of RSSI (in dBm)
+ */
+int16_t sx127x_read_rssi(const sx127x_t *dev);
+
 /**
  * @brief   Gets current state of transceiver.
  *
diff --git a/drivers/sx127x/sx127x_getset.c b/drivers/sx127x/sx127x_getset.c
index aad2ee2f97..6f74f9d23b 100644
--- a/drivers/sx127x/sx127x_getset.c
+++ b/drivers/sx127x/sx127x_getset.c
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ uint8_t sx127x_get_syncword(const sx127x_t *dev)
 
 void sx127x_set_syncword(sx127x_t *dev, uint8_t syncword)
 {
-    DEBUG("[DEBUG] Set syncword: %d\n", syncword);
+    DEBUG("[DEBUG] Set syncword: %02x\n", syncword);
 
     sx127x_reg_write(dev, SX127X_REG_LR_SYNCWORD, syncword);
 }
diff --git a/drivers/sx127x/sx127x_internal.c b/drivers/sx127x/sx127x_internal.c
index d8be969727..5889e41d0c 100644
--- a/drivers/sx127x/sx127x_internal.c
+++ b/drivers/sx127x/sx127x_internal.c
@@ -224,3 +224,18 @@ void sx127x_start_cad(sx127x_t *dev)
             break;
     }
 }
+
+bool sx127x_is_channel_free(sx127x_t *dev, uint32_t freq, int16_t rssi_threshold)
+{
+    int16_t rssi = 0;
+
+    sx127x_set_channel(dev, freq);
+    sx127x_set_op_mode(dev, SX127X_RF_OPMODE_RECEIVER);
+
+    xtimer_usleep(1000); /* wait 1 millisecond */
+
+    rssi = sx127x_read_rssi(dev);
+    sx127x_set_sleep(dev);
+
+    return (rssi <= rssi_threshold);
+}