diff --git a/drivers/Makefile.dep b/drivers/Makefile.dep
index 29a2918e73..7f9f85aed7 100644
--- a/drivers/Makefile.dep
+++ b/drivers/Makefile.dep
@@ -331,6 +331,15 @@ ifneq (,$(filter mq3,$(USEMODULE)))
   FEATURES_REQUIRED += periph_adc
 endif
 
+ifneq (,$(filter mrf24j40m%,$(USEMODULE)))
+  USEMODULE += mrf24j40
+
+  # all modules but mrf24j40ma have an external PA
+  ifeq (,$(filter mrf24j40ma,$(USEMODULE)))
+    CFLAGS += -DMRF24J40_USE_EXT_PA_LNA
+  endif
+endif
+
 ifneq (,$(filter mrf24j40,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += xtimer
   USEMODULE += luid
diff --git a/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk b/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk
index a3d17978ff..818839dbe5 100644
--- a/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk
@@ -107,6 +107,9 @@ PSEUDOMODULES += cc1100
 PSEUDOMODULES += cc1100e
 PSEUDOMODULES += cc1101
 
+# include variants of mrf24j40 drivers as pseudo modules
+PSEUDOMODULES += mrf24j40m%
+
 # include variants of SX127X drivers as pseudo modules
 PSEUDOMODULES += sx1272
 PSEUDOMODULES += sx1276