diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/application_layer/zep/gnrc_zep.c b/sys/net/gnrc/application_layer/zep/gnrc_zep.c
index 1d2c210e01..8f1eb8d88b 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/application_layer/zep/gnrc_zep.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/application_layer/zep/gnrc_zep.c
@@ -198,6 +198,12 @@ static inline uint16_t *_get_uint16_ptr(void *ptr)
 
 static int _send(gnrc_netdev_t *netdev, gnrc_pktsnip_t *pkt)
 {
+    if ((netdev == NULL) || (netdev->driver != &_zep_driver)) {
+        DEBUG("zep: wrong device on sending\n");
+        gnrc_pktbuf_release(pkt);
+        return -ENODEV;
+    }
+
     gnrc_zep_t *dev = (gnrc_zep_t *)netdev;
     gnrc_pktsnip_t *ptr, *new_pkt, *hdr;
     gnrc_zep_hdr_t *zep;
@@ -205,12 +211,6 @@ static int _send(gnrc_netdev_t *netdev, gnrc_pktsnip_t *pkt)
     uint8_t mhr[IEEE802154_MAX_HDR_LEN], *data;
     uint16_t fcs = 0;
 
-    if ((netdev == NULL) || (netdev->driver != &_zep_driver)) {
-        DEBUG("zep: wrong device on sending\n");
-        gnrc_pktbuf_release(pkt);
-        return -ENODEV;
-    }
-
     /* create 802.15.4 header */
     hdr_len = _make_data_frame_hdr(dev, mhr, (gnrc_netif_hdr_t *)pkt->data);