diff --git a/examples/gnrc_networking/Makefile b/examples/gnrc_networking/Makefile
index 7aac1aee12..b8b53ac282 100644
--- a/examples/gnrc_networking/Makefile
+++ b/examples/gnrc_networking/Makefile
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ ifneq (,$(filter cc110x,$(USEMODULE)))          # radio is cc110x sub-GHz
 else
   ifneq (,$(filter at86rf212b,$(USEMODULE)))    # radio is IEEE 802.15.4 sub-GHz
     DEFAULT_CHANNEL ?= 5
-    FLAGS += -DIEEE802154_DEFAULT_SUBGHZ_CHANNEL=$(DEFAULT_CHANNEL)
+    CFLAGS += -DIEEE802154_DEFAULT_SUBGHZ_CHANNEL=$(DEFAULT_CHANNEL)
   else                                          # radio is IEEE 802.15.4 2.4 GHz
     DEFAULT_CHANNEL ?= 26
     CFLAGS += -DIEEE802154_DEFAULT_CHANNEL=$(DEFAULT_CHANNEL)