diff --git a/pkg/lwip/contrib/netdev/lwip_netdev.c b/pkg/lwip/contrib/netdev/lwip_netdev.c
index e70e4eacee..c256d3ddbe 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/contrib/netdev/lwip_netdev.c
+++ b/pkg/lwip/contrib/netdev/lwip_netdev.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include "lwip/ethip6.h"
 #include "lwip/netif.h"
 #include "lwip/netifapi.h"
+#include "lwip/netif/compat.h"
 #include "lwip/netif/netdev.h"
 #include "lwip/opt.h"
 #include "lwip/pbuf.h"
@@ -192,7 +193,6 @@ err_t lwip_netdev_init(struct netif *netif)
     }
     netif->flags |= NETIF_FLAG_IGMP;
     netif->flags |= NETIF_FLAG_MLD6;
-    netdev->context = netif;
 #if LWIP_IPV6_AUTOCONFIG
     netif->ip6_autoconfig_enabled = 1;
 #endif
@@ -279,7 +279,8 @@ static void _event_cb(netdev_t *dev, netdev_event_t event)
         }
     }
     else {
-        struct netif *netif = dev->context;
+        lwip_netif_t *compat_netif = dev->context;
+        struct netif *netif = &compat_netif->lwip_netif;
         switch (event) {
             case NETDEV_EVENT_RX_COMPLETE: {
                 struct pbuf *p = _get_recv_pkt(dev);
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/include/lwip/netif/compat.h b/pkg/lwip/include/lwip/netif/compat.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0a3c97f9e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/lwip/include/lwip/netif/compat.h
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2021 Google LLC
+ *
+ * This file is subject to the terms and conditions of the GNU Lesser
+ * General Public License v2.1. See the file LICENSE in the top level
+ * directory for more details.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * @ingroup     pkg_lwip
+ *
+ * @{
+ *
+ * @file
+ * @brief   lwIP definition based on common netif_t struct for network
+ *          stack-independent API.
+ *
+ * @author  Erik Ekman <eekman@google.com>
+ */
+#ifndef LWIP_NETIF_COMPAT_H
+#define LWIP_NETIF_COMPAT_H
+
+#include "lwip/netif.h"
+#include "net/netif.h"
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+/**
+ * @brief   Representation of a network interface
+ */
+typedef struct {
+    netif_t common_netif;                /**< network interface descriptor */
+    struct netif lwip_netif;             /**< lwIP interface data */
+} lwip_netif_t;
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+
+#endif /* LWIP_NETIF_COMPAT_H */
+/** @} */
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/include/lwip/netif/netdev.h b/pkg/lwip/include/lwip/netif/netdev.h
index c3b1ec77cf..2163021a9f 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/include/lwip/netif/netdev.h
+++ b/pkg/lwip/include/lwip/netif/netdev.h
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ extern "C" {
  * to an existing netdev_t instance
  *
  * @pre netif->state is set to an existing netdev_t instance.
+ *      netif->state->context pointing to the lwip_netif_t containing this netif.
  *
  * @param[in] netif The network interface intended to be initialized.
  *
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/include/lwip_init_devs.h b/pkg/lwip/include/lwip_init_devs.h
index 3e65453ba3..d0344f4fb4 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/include/lwip_init_devs.h
+++ b/pkg/lwip/include/lwip_init_devs.h
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
-#include "lwip/netif.h"
+#include "lwip/netif/compat.h"
 #include "net/netdev.h"
 #include "xfa.h"
 
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ void lwip_netif_init_devs(void);
  * The netif will be set up using the `lwip_netdev_init` helper.
  * The first netif added will be marked as the default route.
  */
-struct netif *lwip_add_ethernet(struct netif *netif, netdev_t *state);
+struct netif *lwip_add_ethernet(lwip_netif_t *netif, netdev_t *state);
 
 #if IS_USED(MODULE_LWIP_SIXLOWPAN)
 /**
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ struct netif *lwip_add_ethernet(struct netif *netif, netdev_t *state);
  *
  * The netif will be set up using the `lwip_netdev_init` helper.
  */
-struct netif *lwip_add_6lowpan(struct netif *netif, netdev_t *state);
+struct netif *lwip_add_6lowpan(lwip_netif_t *netif, netdev_t *state);
 #endif /* MODULE_LWIP_SIXLOWPAN */
 
 typedef void (*lwip_netif_setup_func_t)(void);
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_at86rf215.c b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_at86rf215.c
index 6932026581..6e2b2cd9fc 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_at86rf215.c
+++ b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_at86rf215.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 #define USED_BANDS (IS_USED(MODULE_AT86RF215_SUBGHZ) + IS_USED(MODULE_AT86RF215_24GHZ))
 #define NETIF_AT86RF215_NUMOF   ARRAY_SIZE(at86rf215_params)
 
-static struct netif netif[NETIF_AT86RF215_NUMOF * USED_BANDS];
+static lwip_netif_t netif[NETIF_AT86RF215_NUMOF * USED_BANDS];
 static at86rf215_t at86rf215_devs[NETIF_AT86RF215_NUMOF * USED_BANDS];
 
 static void auto_init_at86rf215(void)
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ static void auto_init_at86rf215(void)
 
         at86rf215_t *dev_09 = NULL;
         at86rf215_t *dev_24 = NULL;
-        struct netif *netif_09 = NULL;
-        struct netif *netif_24 = NULL;
+        lwip_netif_t *netif_09 = NULL;
+        lwip_netif_t *netif_24 = NULL;
 
         if (IS_USED(MODULE_AT86RF215_SUBGHZ)) {
             dev_09   = &at86rf215_devs[i];
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_at86rf2xx.c b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_at86rf2xx.c
index 6063471264..b017120a66 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_at86rf2xx.c
+++ b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_at86rf2xx.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 
 #define NETIF_AT86RF2XX_NUMOF        ARRAY_SIZE(at86rf2xx_params)
 
-static struct netif netif[NETIF_AT86RF2XX_NUMOF];
+static lwip_netif_t netif[NETIF_AT86RF2XX_NUMOF];
 static at86rf2xx_t at86rf2xx_devs[NETIF_AT86RF2XX_NUMOF];
 
 static void auto_init_at86rf2xx(void)
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_atwinc15x0.c b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_atwinc15x0.c
index 11b98f58f7..78a4b5a086 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_atwinc15x0.c
+++ b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_atwinc15x0.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 
 #define NETIF_ATWINC_NUMOF ARRAY_SIZE(atwinc15x0_params)
 
-static struct netif netif[NETIF_ATWINC_NUMOF];
+static lwip_netif_t netif[NETIF_ATWINC_NUMOF];
 static atwinc15x0_t atwinc15x0_devs[NETIF_ATWINC_NUMOF];
 
 static void auto_init_atwinc15x0(void)
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_cc2538_rf.c b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_cc2538_rf.c
index 24539fd4fa..afbd4189b0 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_cc2538_rf.c
+++ b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_cc2538_rf.c
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 #define ENABLE_DEBUG    0
 #include "debug.h"
 
-static struct netif netif;
+static lwip_netif_t netif;
 static netdev_ieee802154_submac_t cc2538_rf_netdev;
 
 static void auto_init_cc2538_rf(void)
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_dose.c b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_dose.c
index 604d67b81b..09abe2c851 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_dose.c
+++ b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_dose.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 
 #define NETIF_DOSE_NUMOF    ARRAY_SIZE(dose_params)
 
-static struct netif netif[NETIF_DOSE_NUMOF];
+static lwip_netif_t netif[NETIF_DOSE_NUMOF];
 static dose_t dose_devs[NETIF_DOSE_NUMOF];
 
 static void auto_init_dose(void)
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_enc28j60.c b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_enc28j60.c
index 932036d30a..42c18d9880 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_enc28j60.c
+++ b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_enc28j60.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 
 #define NETIF_ENC28J60_NUMOF        ARRAY_SIZE(enc28j60_params)
 
-static struct netif netif[NETIF_ENC28J60_NUMOF];
+static lwip_netif_t netif[NETIF_ENC28J60_NUMOF];
 static enc28j60_t enc28j60_devs[NETIF_ENC28J60_NUMOF];
 
 static void auto_init_enc28j60(void)
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_esp_eth.c b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_esp_eth.c
index 319ea23114..4212420c94 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_esp_eth.c
+++ b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_esp_eth.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 extern esp_eth_netdev_t _esp_eth_dev;
 extern void esp_eth_setup(esp_eth_netdev_t* dev);
 
-static struct netif netif;
+static lwip_netif_t netif;
 
 static void auto_init_esp_eth(void)
 {
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_esp_wifi.c b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_esp_wifi.c
index 8b2c187928..9256b88d3a 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_esp_wifi.c
+++ b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_esp_wifi.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 extern esp_wifi_netdev_t _esp_wifi_dev;
 extern void esp_wifi_setup(esp_wifi_netdev_t *dev);
 
-static struct netif netif;
+static lwip_netif_t netif;
 
 static void auto_init_esp_wifi(void)
 {
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_ethos.c b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_ethos.c
index 96270ced65..c3058b40ac 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_ethos.c
+++ b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_ethos.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 
 #define NETIF_ETHOS_NUMOF        ARRAY_SIZE(ethos_params)
 
-static struct netif netif[NETIF_ETHOS_NUMOF];
+static lwip_netif_t netif[NETIF_ETHOS_NUMOF];
 static ethos_t ethos_devs[NETIF_ETHOS_NUMOF];
 
 static uint8_t _inbuf[NETIF_ETHOS_NUMOF][2048];
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_mrf24j40.c b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_mrf24j40.c
index 3926db819f..1fb59decad 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_mrf24j40.c
+++ b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_mrf24j40.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 
 #define NETIF_MRF24J40_NUMOF        ARRAY_SIZE(mrf24j40_params)
 
-static struct netif netif[NETIF_MRF24J40_NUMOF];
+static lwip_netif_t netif[NETIF_MRF24J40_NUMOF];
 static mrf24j40_t mrf24j40_devs[NETIF_MRF24J40_NUMOF];
 
 static void auto_init_mrf24j40(void)
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_netdev_tap.c b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_netdev_tap.c
index 2939498854..f0f10c359c 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_netdev_tap.c
+++ b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_netdev_tap.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 
 #define NETIF_TAP_NUMOF        (NETDEV_TAP_MAX)
 
-static struct netif netif[NETIF_TAP_NUMOF];
+static lwip_netif_t netif[NETIF_TAP_NUMOF];
 static netdev_tap_t netdev_taps[NETIF_TAP_NUMOF];
 
 static void auto_init_netdev_tap(void)
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_nrf802154.c b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_nrf802154.c
index 829137add2..59aae8ad44 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_nrf802154.c
+++ b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_nrf802154.c
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 #define ENABLE_DEBUG    0
 #include "debug.h"
 
-static struct netif netif;
+static lwip_netif_t netif;
 static netdev_ieee802154_submac_t nrf802154_netdev;
 
 static void auto_init_nrf802154(void)
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_sam0_eth.c b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_sam0_eth.c
index e3068d16b4..822f5e35c1 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_sam0_eth.c
+++ b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_sam0_eth.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 static netdev_t sam0_eth;
 extern void sam0_eth_setup(netdev_t *netdev);
 
-static struct netif netif;
+static lwip_netif_t netif;
 
 static void auto_init_sam0_eth(void)
 {
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_socket_zep.c b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_socket_zep.c
index 3dca78c9b3..ce18cf8ef6 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_socket_zep.c
+++ b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_socket_zep.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 
 #define NETIF_SOCKET_ZEP_NUMOF        ARRAY_SIZE(socket_zep_params)
 
-static struct netif netif[NETIF_SOCKET_ZEP_NUMOF];
+static lwip_netif_t netif[NETIF_SOCKET_ZEP_NUMOF];
 static socket_zep_t socket_zep_devs[NETIF_SOCKET_ZEP_NUMOF];
 
 static void auto_init_socket_zep(void)
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_stm32_eth.c b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_stm32_eth.c
index 864059d620..d1d48e1ade 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_stm32_eth.c
+++ b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/auto_init_stm32_eth.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 static netdev_t stm32_eth;
 extern void stm32_eth_netdev_setup(netdev_t *netdev);
 
-static struct netif netif;
+static lwip_netif_t netif;
 
 static void auto_init_stm32_eth(void)
 {
diff --git a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/init.c b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/init.c
index c5ea854e96..fbc25351a7 100644
--- a/pkg/lwip/init_devs/init.c
+++ b/pkg/lwip/init_devs/init.c
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include "kernel_defines.h"
 #include "lwip_init_devs.h"
 #include "lwip/tcpip.h"
+#include "lwip/netif/compat.h"
 #include "lwip/netif/netdev.h"
 #include "netif/lowpan6.h"
 #include "xfa.h"
@@ -50,10 +51,21 @@ void lwip_netif_init_devs(void)
     }
 }
 
-struct netif *lwip_add_ethernet(struct netif *netif, netdev_t *state)
+static struct netif *setup_netif(lwip_netif_t *netif, netdev_t *state,
+                                 netif_input_fn input_fn)
 {
-    struct netif *_if = netif_add_noaddr(netif, state, lwip_netdev_init,
-                                         tcpip_input);
+    state->context = netif;
+    struct netif *_if = netif_add_noaddr(&netif->lwip_netif, state, lwip_netdev_init,
+                                         input_fn);
+    if (_if) {
+        netif_register(&netif->common_netif);
+    }
+    return _if;
+}
+
+struct netif *lwip_add_ethernet(lwip_netif_t *netif, netdev_t *state)
+{
+    struct netif *_if = setup_netif(netif, state, tcpip_input);
     if (_if && netif_default == NULL) {
         netif_set_default(_if);
     }
@@ -61,9 +73,9 @@ struct netif *lwip_add_ethernet(struct netif *netif, netdev_t *state)
 }
 
 #if IS_USED(MODULE_LWIP_SIXLOWPAN)
-struct netif *lwip_add_6lowpan(struct netif *netif, netdev_t *state)
+struct netif *lwip_add_6lowpan(lwip_netif_t *netif, netdev_t *state)
 {
-    return netif_add_noaddr(netif, state, lwip_netdev_init, tcpip_6lowpan_input);
+    return setup_netif(netif, state, tcpip_6lowpan_input);
 }
 #endif /* MODULE_LWIP_SIXLOWPAN */