diff --git a/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif/pktq.h b/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif/pktq.h
index 582f83757a..7138e3b5b4 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif/pktq.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif/pktq.h
@@ -46,6 +46,13 @@ extern "C" {
  */
 int gnrc_netif_pktq_put(gnrc_netif_t *netif, gnrc_pktsnip_t *pkt);
 
+/**
+ * @brief   Returns the overall usage of the packet queue resources
+ *
+ * @return  Number of gnrc_pktqueue_t entries currently in use.
+ */
+unsigned gnrc_netif_pktq_usage(void);
+
 /**
  * @brief   Gets a packet from the packet send queue of a network interface
  *
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/pktq/gnrc_netif_pktq.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/pktq/gnrc_netif_pktq.c
index b8ced8b893..11a9a3b23e 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/pktq/gnrc_netif_pktq.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/pktq/gnrc_netif_pktq.c
@@ -32,6 +32,18 @@ static gnrc_pktqueue_t *_get_free_entry(void)
     return NULL;
 }
 
+unsigned gnrc_netif_pktq_usage(void)
+{
+    unsigned res = 0;
+
+    for (unsigned i = 0; i < CONFIG_GNRC_NETIF_PKTQ_POOL_SIZE; i++) {
+        if (_pool[i].pkt != NULL) {
+            res++;
+        }
+    }
+    return res;
+}
+
 int gnrc_netif_pktq_put(gnrc_netif_t *netif, gnrc_pktsnip_t *pkt)
 {
     assert(netif != NULL);