diff --git a/sys/include/net/gnrc/rpl.h b/sys/include/net/gnrc/rpl.h
index bd240a05bc..89df349285 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/gnrc/rpl.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/gnrc/rpl.h
@@ -292,8 +292,8 @@ static inline bool GNRC_RPL_COUNTER_GREATER_THAN(uint8_t A, uint8_t B)
 #ifndef CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_LIFETIME
 #define CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_LIFETIME (5)
 #endif
-#ifndef GNRC_RPL_LIFETIME_UNIT
-#define GNRC_RPL_LIFETIME_UNIT (60)
+#ifndef CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_LIFETIME_UNIT
+#define CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_LIFETIME_UNIT (60)
 #endif
 /** @} */
 
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl.c b/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl.c
index f69aa376f5..bffe2b1be9 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl.c
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ gnrc_rpl_instance_t *gnrc_rpl_root_init(uint8_t instance_id, ipv6_addr_t *dodag_
     dodag->dio_min = CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_DIO_INTERVAL_MIN;
     dodag->dio_redun = CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_DIO_REDUNDANCY_CONSTANT;
     dodag->default_lifetime = CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_LIFETIME;
-    dodag->lifetime_unit = GNRC_RPL_LIFETIME_UNIT;
+    dodag->lifetime_unit = CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_LIFETIME_UNIT;
     dodag->version = GNRC_RPL_COUNTER_INIT;
     dodag->grounded = GNRC_RPL_GROUNDED;
     dodag->node_status = GNRC_RPL_ROOT_NODE;
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl_dodag.c b/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl_dodag.c
index dbcbebd724..006cec6e6d 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl_dodag.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl_dodag.c
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ bool gnrc_rpl_dodag_init(gnrc_rpl_instance_t *instance, ipv6_addr_t *dodag_id, k
     dodag->dio_min = CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_DIO_INTERVAL_MIN;
     dodag->dio_redun = CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_DIO_REDUNDANCY_CONSTANT;
     dodag->default_lifetime = CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_DEFAULT_LIFETIME;
-    dodag->lifetime_unit = GNRC_RPL_LIFETIME_UNIT;
+    dodag->lifetime_unit = CONFIG_GNRC_RPL_LIFETIME_UNIT;
     dodag->node_status = GNRC_RPL_NORMAL_NODE;
     dodag->dao_seq = GNRC_RPL_COUNTER_INIT;
     dodag->dtsn = 0;