diff --git a/pkg/semtech-loramac/contrib/semtech_loramac.c b/pkg/semtech-loramac/contrib/semtech_loramac.c
index 13b07ee4bb..39f406b0cb 100644
--- a/pkg/semtech-loramac/contrib/semtech_loramac.c
+++ b/pkg/semtech-loramac/contrib/semtech_loramac.c
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 
 #include "msg.h"
 #include "mutex.h"
+#include "kernel_defines.h"
 
 #include "net/netdev.h"
 #include "net/netdev/lora.h"
diff --git a/sys/include/net/loramac.h b/sys/include/net/loramac.h
index 1be588c814..6114ef00ee 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/loramac.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/loramac.h
@@ -125,12 +125,35 @@ extern "C" {
 #define CONFIG_LORAMAC_DEFAULT_NETID            (1U)
 #endif
 
+/**
+ * @brief Toggle network type (public or private)
+ *
+ * Set "1" to enable private network, set "0" to enable public network.
+ * This configuration sets the sync word for LoRaWAN communication. This should
+ * be in concordance with the gateway configuration. Public networks use `0x34`
+ * while private networks use `0x12` as sync word.
+ */
+#ifdef DOXYGEN
+#define CONFIG_LORAMAC_DEFAULT_PRIVATE_NETWORK
+#endif
+
 /**
  * @brief   Default network type (public or private)
+ *
+ * This configuration sets the sync word for LoRaWAN communication. This should
+ * be in concordance with the gateway configuration. Public networks use `0x34`
+ * while private networks use `0x12` as sync word.
+ * @deprecated Use inverse @ref CONFIG_LORAMAC_DEFAULT_PRIVATE_NETWORK instead.
+ * Will be removed after 2021.04 release.
  */
 #ifndef LORAMAC_DEFAULT_PUBLIC_NETWORK
-#define LORAMAC_DEFAULT_PUBLIC_NETWORK         (true)
+#if IS_ACTIVE(CONFIG_LORAMAC_DEFAULT_PRIVATE_NETWORK)
+#define LORAMAC_DEFAULT_PUBLIC_NETWORK          (false)
+#else
+#define LORAMAC_DEFAULT_PUBLIC_NETWORK          (true)
 #endif
+#endif
+
 /**
  * @brief   Default datarate
  */
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/link_layer/lorawan/gnrc_lorawan.c b/sys/net/gnrc/link_layer/lorawan/gnrc_lorawan.c
index 03e6e3c3cf..bf7701a903 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/link_layer/lorawan/gnrc_lorawan.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/link_layer/lorawan/gnrc_lorawan.c
@@ -17,11 +17,13 @@
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>
+
+#include "errno.h"
+#include "kernel_defines.h"
+
 #include "net/lora.h"
 #include "net/gnrc/lorawan.h"
-#include "errno.h"
 #include "net/gnrc/pktbuf.h"
-
 #include "net/lorawan/hdr.h"
 #include "net/loramac.h"
 #include "net/gnrc/lorawan/region.h"