diff --git a/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif/ieee802154.h b/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif/ieee802154.h
index c6976597c5..d69122b251 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif/ieee802154.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif/ieee802154.h
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ extern "C" {
  * @return  negative number on error
  */
 int gnrc_netif_ieee802154_create(gnrc_netif_t *netif, char *stack, int stacksize,
-                                 char priority, char *name, netdev_t *dev);
+                                 char priority, const char *name, netdev_t *dev);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/ieee802154/gnrc_netif_ieee802154.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/ieee802154/gnrc_netif_ieee802154.c
index 23b4c90eeb..cb83421cd2 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/ieee802154/gnrc_netif_ieee802154.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/ieee802154/gnrc_netif_ieee802154.c
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ static const gnrc_netif_ops_t ieee802154_ops = {
 };
 
 int gnrc_netif_ieee802154_create(gnrc_netif_t *netif, char *stack, int stacksize,
-                                 char priority, char *name, netdev_t *dev)
+                                 char priority, const char *name, netdev_t *dev)
 {
     return gnrc_netif_create(netif, stack, stacksize, priority, name, dev,
                              &ieee802154_ops);