diff --git a/pkg/nimble/netif/include/nimble_netif.h b/pkg/nimble/netif/include/nimble_netif.h
index fd4b7927fd..b7acbf0fd1 100644
--- a/pkg/nimble/netif/include/nimble_netif.h
+++ b/pkg/nimble/netif/include/nimble_netif.h
@@ -253,6 +253,22 @@ int nimble_netif_close(int handle);
 int nimble_netif_accept(const uint8_t *ad, size_t ad_len,
                         const struct ble_gap_adv_params *adv_params);
 
+/**
+ * @brief   Wait for an incoming connection from a specific peer, sending
+ *          directed advertisements (IND_DIR)
+ *
+ * @param[in] addr          BLE address of the target peer
+ * @param[in] timeout_ms    stop advertising after this time (in ms), set to
+ *                          BLE_HS_FOREVER to disable timeout
+ * @param[in] adv_params    advertising (timing) parameters to use
+ *
+ * @return  NIMBLE_NETIF_OK on success
+ * @return  NIMBLE_NETIF_BUSY if already advertising
+ * @return  NIMBLE_NETIF_NOMEM on insufficient connection memory
+ */
+int nimble_netif_accept_direct(const ble_addr_t *addr, uint32_t timeout_ms,
+                               const struct ble_gap_adv_params *adv_params);
+
 /**
  * @brief   Stop accepting incoming connections (stop advertising)
  * *
diff --git a/pkg/nimble/netif/nimble_netif.c b/pkg/nimble/netif/nimble_netif.c
index 0a2b70a82a..9d4e56959a 100644
--- a/pkg/nimble/netif/nimble_netif.c
+++ b/pkg/nimble/netif/nimble_netif.c
@@ -531,6 +531,11 @@ static int _on_gap_slave_evt(struct ble_gap_event *event, void *arg)
         case BLE_GAP_EVENT_CONN_UPDATE_REQ:
             /* nothing to do here */
             break;
+        case BLE_GAP_EVENT_ADV_COMPLETE: {
+            uint8_t addr[BLE_ADDR_LEN];
+            nimble_netif_conn_free(handle, addr);
+            _notify(handle, NIMBLE_NETIF_ACCEPT_STOP, addr);
+        }
         default:
             break;
     }
@@ -634,10 +639,10 @@ int nimble_netif_close(int handle)
     return NIMBLE_NETIF_OK;
 }
 
-int nimble_netif_accept(const uint8_t *ad, size_t ad_len,
-                        const struct ble_gap_adv_params *adv_params)
+static int _accept(const uint8_t *ad, size_t ad_len, const ble_addr_t *addr,
+                   uint32_t timeout,
+                   const struct ble_gap_adv_params *adv_params)
 {
-    assert(ad);
     assert(adv_params);
 
     int handle;
@@ -651,10 +656,18 @@ int nimble_netif_accept(const uint8_t *ad, size_t ad_len,
     }
 
     /* set advertisement data */
-    res = ble_gap_adv_set_data(ad, (int)ad_len);
-    assert(res == 0);
+    if (ad != NULL) {
+        res = ble_gap_adv_set_data(ad, (int)ad_len);
+        assert(res == 0);
+    }
+    /* remember address if applicable */
+    if (addr) {
+        nimble_netif_conn_t *conn = nimble_netif_conn_get(handle);
+        bluetil_addr_swapped_cp(addr->val, conn->addr);
+    }
+
     /* remember context and start advertising */
-    res = ble_gap_adv_start(nimble_riot_own_addr_type, NULL, BLE_HS_FOREVER,
+    res = ble_gap_adv_start(nimble_riot_own_addr_type, addr, timeout,
                             adv_params, _on_gap_slave_evt, (void *)handle);
     assert(res == 0);
 
@@ -663,6 +676,20 @@ int nimble_netif_accept(const uint8_t *ad, size_t ad_len,
     return NIMBLE_NETIF_OK;
 }
 
+int nimble_netif_accept(const uint8_t *ad, size_t ad_len,
+                        const struct ble_gap_adv_params *adv_params)
+{
+    assert(ad != NULL);
+    assert(ad_len > 0);
+    return _accept(ad, ad_len, NULL, BLE_HS_FOREVER, adv_params);
+}
+
+int nimble_netif_accept_direct(const ble_addr_t *addr, uint32_t timeout,
+                              const struct ble_gap_adv_params *adv_params)
+{
+    return _accept(NULL, 0, addr, timeout, adv_params);
+}
+
 int nimble_netif_accept_stop(void)
 {
     int handle = nimble_netif_conn_get_adv();
diff --git a/sys/shell/commands/sc_nimble_netif.c b/sys/shell/commands/sc_nimble_netif.c
index 311879999a..a1c05f5ed1 100644
--- a/sys/shell/commands/sc_nimble_netif.c
+++ b/sys/shell/commands/sc_nimble_netif.c
@@ -241,6 +241,44 @@ static void _cmd_adv(const char *name)
     }
 }
 
+static void _cmd_adv_direct(const char *addr_str)
+{
+    int res;
+    (void)res;
+    uint8_t addrn[BLE_ADDR_LEN];
+    ble_addr_t addr;
+    const struct ble_gap_adv_params _adv_params = {
+        .conn_mode = BLE_GAP_CONN_MODE_DIR,
+        .disc_mode = BLE_GAP_DISC_MODE_GEN,
+        .itvl_min = BLE_GAP_ADV_FAST_INTERVAL2_MIN,
+        .itvl_max = BLE_GAP_ADV_FAST_INTERVAL2_MAX,
+    };
+
+    /* make sure no advertising is in progress */
+    if (nimble_netif_conn_is_adv()) {
+        puts("err: advertising already in progress");
+        return;
+    }
+
+    /* parse and convert address -> RIOT uses big endian notation, NimBLE
+     * expects little endian... */
+    if (bluetil_addr_from_str(addrn, addr_str) == NULL) {
+        puts("err: unable to parse BLE address");
+        return;
+    }
+    addr.type = nimble_riot_own_addr_type;
+    bluetil_addr_swapped_cp(addrn, addr.val);
+
+    /* start advertising directed advertising with the given BLE address */
+    res = nimble_netif_accept_direct(&addr, BLE_HS_FOREVER, &_adv_params);
+    if (res != NIMBLE_NETIF_OK) {
+        printf("err: unable to start directed advertising (%i)\n", res);
+    }
+    else {
+        puts("success: started to send directed advertisements");
+    }
+}
+
 static void _cmd_adv_stop(void)
 {
     int res = nimble_netif_accept_stop();
@@ -395,13 +433,23 @@ int _nimble_netif_handler(int argc, char **argv)
         char *name = NULL;
         if (argc > 2) {
             if (_ishelp(argv[2])) {
-                printf("usage: %s adv [help|stop|<name>]\n", argv[0]);
+                printf("usage: %s adv [help|stop|direct <addr>|<name>]\n",
+                       argv[0]);
                 return 0;
             }
             if (memcmp(argv[2], "stop", 4) == 0) {
                 _cmd_adv_stop();
                 return 0;
             }
+            if (memcmp(argv[2], "direct", 6) == 0) {
+                puts("DBG: direct adv");
+                if (argc < 4) {
+                    printf("error, no BLE address given\n");
+                    return 0;
+                }
+                _cmd_adv_direct(argv[3]);
+                return 0;
+            }
             name = argv[2];
         }
         _cmd_adv(name);