diff --git a/sys/include/net/netopt.h b/sys/include/net/netopt.h
index d5fb9273c1..09531f1f5a 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/netopt.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/netopt.h
@@ -29,6 +29,14 @@
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
+/**
+ * @brief       A deprecated alias for @ref NETOPT_MAX_PDU_SIZE
+ *
+ * @deprecated  Please use @ref NETOPT_MAX_PDU_SIZE instead of
+ *              `NETOPT_MAX_PACKET_SIZE`
+ */
+#define NETOPT_MAX_PACKET_SIZE NETOPT_MAX_PDU_SIZE
+
 /**
  * @brief   Global list of configuration options available throughout the
  *          network stack, e.g. by netdev and netapi
@@ -171,9 +179,9 @@ typedef enum {
      */
     NETOPT_TX_POWER,
     /**
-     * @brief   (uint16_t) maximum packet size a network module can handle
+     * @brief   (uint16_t) maximum protocol data unit
      */
-    NETOPT_MAX_PACKET_SIZE,
+    NETOPT_MAX_PDU_SIZE,
     /**
      * @brief   (@ref netopt_enable_t) frame preloading
      *