diff --git a/Makefile.dep b/Makefile.dep
index 19fb715328..a49f2ca0e0 100644
--- a/Makefile.dep
+++ b/Makefile.dep
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_mac,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += gnrc_priority_pktqueue
   USEMODULE += csma_sender
   USEMODULE += evtimer
+  ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_netif,$(USEMODULE)))
+    USEMODULE += gnrc_netif_mac
+  endif
 endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_gomach,$(USEMODULE)))
diff --git a/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk b/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk
index 29fa1e8bee..34fc2385df 100644
--- a/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ PSEUDOMODULES += gnrc_netif_events
 PSEUDOMODULES += gnrc_pktbuf_cmd
 PSEUDOMODULES += gnrc_netif_6lo
 PSEUDOMODULES += gnrc_netif_ipv6
+PSEUDOMODULES += gnrc_netif_mac
 PSEUDOMODULES += gnrc_netif_cmd_%
 PSEUDOMODULES += gnrc_netif_dedup
 PSEUDOMODULES += gnrc_nettype_%
diff --git a/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif.h b/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif.h
index 7202bb2a0d..7538caf537 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif.h
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
 #if IS_USED(MODULE_GNRC_NETIF_IPV6)
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/ipv6.h"
 #endif
-#ifdef MODULE_GNRC_MAC
+#if IS_USED(MODULE_GNRC_NETIF_MAC)
 #include "net/gnrc/netif/mac.h"
 #endif
 #include "net/ndp.h"
@@ -86,9 +86,9 @@ typedef struct {
 #if IS_USED(MODULE_GNRC_NETIF_IPV6) || defined(DOXYGEN)
     gnrc_netif_ipv6_t ipv6;                 /**< IPv6 component */
 #endif
-#if defined(MODULE_GNRC_MAC) || DOXYGEN
+#if IS_USED(MODULE_GNRC_NETIF_MAC) || defined(DOXYGEN)
     gnrc_netif_mac_t mac;                  /**< @ref net_gnrc_mac component */
-#endif  /* MODULE_GNRC_MAC */
+#endif  /* IS_USED(MODULE_GNRC_NETIF_MAC) || defined(DOXYGEN) */
     /**
      * @brief   Flags for the interface
      *