diff --git a/drivers/at86rf215/Makefile.dep b/drivers/at86rf215/Makefile.dep
index 3c75425d6a..2810697566 100644
--- a/drivers/at86rf215/Makefile.dep
+++ b/drivers/at86rf215/Makefile.dep
@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@ FEATURES_REQUIRED += periph_gpio
 FEATURES_REQUIRED += periph_gpio_irq
 FEATURES_REQUIRED += periph_spi
 
+ifneq (,$(filter gnrc,$(USEMODULE)))
+  ifeq (,$(filter gnrc_netif_pktq,$(USEMODULE)))
+    USEMODULE += at86rf215_blocking_send
+  endif
+endif
+
 USEMODULE += xtimer
 USEMODULE += ieee802154
 USEMODULE += netdev_ieee802154
diff --git a/drivers/at86rf215/at86rf215.c b/drivers/at86rf215/at86rf215.c
index b8c1cf84fb..f962d77ff7 100644
--- a/drivers/at86rf215/at86rf215.c
+++ b/drivers/at86rf215/at86rf215.c
@@ -260,6 +260,10 @@ static void _block_while_busy(at86rf215_t *dev)
 
 static void at86rf215_block_while_busy(at86rf215_t *dev)
 {
+    if (!IS_ACTIVE(MODULE_AT86RF215_BLOCKING_SEND)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     if (_tx_ongoing(dev)) {
         DEBUG("[at86rf215] Block while TXing\n");
         _block_while_busy(dev);
@@ -272,7 +276,12 @@ int at86rf215_tx_prepare(at86rf215_t *dev)
         return -EAGAIN;
     }
 
-    at86rf215_block_while_busy(dev);
+    if (!IS_ACTIVE(MODULE_AT86RF215_BLOCKING_SEND) && _tx_ongoing(dev)) {
+        return -EBUSY;
+    } else {
+        at86rf215_block_while_busy(dev);
+    }
+
     dev->tx_frame_len = IEEE802154_FCS_LEN;
 
     return 0;