diff --git a/drivers/at86rf231/at86rf231_spi.c b/drivers/at86rf231/at86rf231_spi.c
index c9400edebc..d72d74c33a 100644
--- a/drivers/at86rf231/at86rf231_spi.c
+++ b/drivers/at86rf231/at86rf231_spi.c
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ uint8_t at86rf231_reg_read(uint8_t addr)
     return value;
 }
 
-void at86rf231_read_fifo(uint8_t *data, uint8_t length)
+void at86rf231_read_fifo(uint8_t *data, radio_packet_length_t length)
 {
     // Start the SPI transfer
     at86rf231_spi_select();
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ void at86rf231_read_fifo(uint8_t *data, uint8_t length)
     at86rf231_spi_unselect();
 }
 
-void at86rf231_write_fifo(const uint8_t *data, uint8_t length)
+void at86rf231_write_fifo(const uint8_t *data, radio_packet_length_t length)
 {
     // Start the SPI transfer
     at86rf231_spi_select();
diff --git a/drivers/at86rf231/at86rf231_tx.c b/drivers/at86rf231/at86rf231_tx.c
index cb172db561..66053fd506 100644
--- a/drivers/at86rf231/at86rf231_tx.c
+++ b/drivers/at86rf231/at86rf231_tx.c
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 #include "at86rf231_arch.h"
 #include "at86rf231_spi.h"
 
-static void at86rf231_xmit(uint8_t *data, uint8_t length);
+static void at86rf231_xmit(uint8_t *data, radio_packet_length_t length);
 static void at86rf231_gen_pkt(uint8_t *buf, at86rf231_packet_t *packet);
 
 static uint8_t sequenz_nr;
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ int16_t at86rf231_send(at86rf231_packet_t *packet)
     return packet->length;
 }
 
-static void at86rf231_xmit(uint8_t *data, uint8_t length)
+static void at86rf231_xmit(uint8_t *data, radio_packet_length_t length)
 {
     // Go to state PLL_ON
     at86rf231_reg_write(AT86RF231_REG__TRX_STATE, AT86RF231_TRX_STATE__PLL_ON);
diff --git a/drivers/at86rf231/include/at86rf231_arch.h b/drivers/at86rf231/include/at86rf231_arch.h
index f76c943a67..ec19ee23f3 100644
--- a/drivers/at86rf231/include/at86rf231_arch.h
+++ b/drivers/at86rf231/include/at86rf231_arch.h
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ uint8_t at86rf231_get_status(void);
 void at86rf231_spi_select(void);
 void at86rf231_spi_unselect(void);
 
-void at86rf231_spi_transfer(const uint8_t *data_out, uint8_t *data_in, uint16_t length);
+void at86rf231_spi_transfer(const uint8_t *data_out, uint8_t *data_in, radio_packet_length_t length);
 uint8_t at86rf231_spi_transfer_byte(uint8_t byte);
 
 void at86rf231_init_interrupts(void);
diff --git a/drivers/at86rf231/include/at86rf231_spi.h b/drivers/at86rf231/include/at86rf231_spi.h
index 88b336e0f7..6ddae54960 100644
--- a/drivers/at86rf231/include/at86rf231_spi.h
+++ b/drivers/at86rf231/include/at86rf231_spi.h
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@
 
 #include <stdint.h>
 
+#include "board.h"
+
 uint8_t at86rf231_reg_read(uint8_t addr);
 void at86rf231_reg_write(uint8_t addr, uint8_t value);
 
-void at86rf231_read_fifo(uint8_t *data, uint8_t length);
-void at86rf231_write_fifo(const uint8_t *data, uint8_t length);
+void at86rf231_read_fifo(uint8_t *data, radio_packet_length_t length);
+void at86rf231_write_fifo(const uint8_t *data, radio_packet_length_t length);
 #endif
diff --git a/drivers/include/at86rf231.h b/drivers/include/at86rf231.h
index d3ee94d465..85dce32d0b 100644
--- a/drivers/include/at86rf231.h
+++ b/drivers/include/at86rf231.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 
+#include "board.h"
 #include "radio/types.h"
 
 #include "ieee802154_frame.h"
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@
 typedef struct __attribute__((packed))
 {
     /* @{ */
-    uint8_t length;                   /** < the length of the frame of the frame including fcs*/
+    uint8_t length;             /** < the length of the frame of the frame including fcs*/
     ieee802154_frame_t frame;   /** < the ieee802154 frame */
     int8_t rssi;                /** < the rssi value */
     uint8_t crc;                /** < 1 if crc was successfull, 0 otherwise */