diff --git a/cpu/samd5x/include/candev_samd5x.h b/cpu/samd5x/include/candev_samd5x.h
index 5c846a867b..4353497720 100644
--- a/cpu/samd5x/include/candev_samd5x.h
+++ b/cpu/samd5x/include/candev_samd5x.h
@@ -109,7 +109,15 @@ typedef struct {
      *  @ref can_conf_t::enable_pin will be set HIGH when active and LOW when
      * inactive.
      */
-     bool enable_pin_active_low;
+    bool enable_pin_active_low            : 1;
+    /**
+     * @brief Whether to disable automatic retransmission
+     *
+     * When set to `true`, a CAN frame will not be retransmitted on transmission
+     * failure (e.g. on missing ACK). Otherwise the frame will be transmitted
+     * again until it succeeds or the CAN controller goes into an error state.
+     */
+    bool disable_automatic_retransmission : 1;
 } can_conf_t;
 #define HAVE_CAN_CONF_T
 
diff --git a/cpu/samd5x/periph/can.c b/cpu/samd5x/periph/can.c
index a4666c1ef2..0ebd9f7488 100644
--- a/cpu/samd5x/periph/can.c
+++ b/cpu/samd5x/periph/can.c
@@ -452,9 +452,15 @@ static int _init(candev_t *candev)
     if (IS_ACTIVE(ENABLE_DEBUG)) {
         _dump_msg_ram_section(dev);
     }
-    /* Disable automatic retransmission by default */
-    /* This can be added as a configuration parameter for the CAN controller */
-    dev->conf->can->CCCR.reg = CAN_CCCR_DAR;
+
+    uint32_t cccr = dev->conf->can->CCCR.reg;
+    cccr &= ~(CAN_CCCR_DAR);
+
+    if (dev->conf->disable_automatic_retransmission) {
+         cccr |= CAN_CCCR_DAR;
+    }
+
+    dev->conf->can->CCCR.reg = cccr;
 
     /* Reject all remote frames */
     dev->conf->can->GFC.reg = CAN_GFC_RRFE | CAN_GFC_RRFS;