diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/nib/_nib-internal.h b/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/nib/_nib-internal.h
index cc3e62a863..602bc3da92 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/nib/_nib-internal.h
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/nib/_nib-internal.h
@@ -350,6 +350,26 @@ _nib_onl_entry_t *_nib_onl_iter(const _nib_onl_entry_t *last);
  */
 _nib_onl_entry_t *_nib_onl_get(const ipv6_addr_t *addr, unsigned iface);
 
+/**
+ * @brief   Gets a node by IPv6 address and interface from the neighbor cache
+ *
+ * @pre     `(addr != NULL)`
+ *
+ * @param[in] addr  The address of a node. Must not be NULL.
+ * @param[in] iface The interface to the node. May be 0 for any interface.
+ *
+ * @return  The Neighbor Cache entry for node with @p addr and @p iface on success.
+ * @return  NULL, if there is no such entry.
+ */
+static inline _nib_onl_entry_t *_nib_onl_nc_get(const ipv6_addr_t *addr, unsigned iface)
+{
+    _nib_onl_entry_t *nce = _nib_onl_get(addr, iface);
+    if (nce && (nce->mode & _NC)) {
+        return nce;
+    }
+    return NULL;
+}
+
 /**
  * @brief   Creates or gets an existing node from the neighbor cache by address
  *