diff --git a/examples/ccn-lite-relay/README.md b/examples/ccn-lite-relay/README.md
index 52f8560534..c9c79a9631 100644
--- a/examples/ccn-lite-relay/README.md
+++ b/examples/ccn-lite-relay/README.md
@@ -8,14 +8,6 @@ use only one packet format, `ndn2013`, and only relay over the link-layer
 ## The shell commands
 
 RIOT provides three shell to interact with the CCN-Lite stack:
-* `ccnl_open` - opens and configures a network device to be used for CCN-Lite.
-                It expects one parameter specifying the PID of the network
-                device. (You can figure out the PID of your network device(s)
-                by calling `ifconfig`.) In this example, this should always be
-                3, hence, calling `ccnl_open 3` should work. (If you specify an
-                incorrect ID, you should get an error message.) You have to
-                call this command, before you can actually send or receive
-                anything.
 * `ccnl_int`  - generates and sends out an Interest. The command expects one
                 mandatory and one optional parameter. The first parameter
                 specifies the exact name (or a prefix) to request, the second
@@ -51,13 +43,12 @@ An example usage of this application could be setup like this:
    windows.
 3. Call `make -B clean all term` in the first terminal and `PORT=tap1 make
    term` in the second one.
-4. Enter `ccnl_open 3` in both terminals.
-5. Enter `ccnl_cont /riot/peter/schmerzl Hello World! Hello RIOT!` on the first
+4. Enter `ccnl_cont /riot/peter/schmerzl Hello World! Hello RIOT!` on the first
    terminal.
-6. Add a FIB entry for this prefix on the second node, e.g. using the broadcast
+5. Add a FIB entry for this prefix on the second node, e.g. using the broadcast
    address: `ccnl_fib add /riot/peter/schmerzl ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff`
-7. Enter `ccnl_int /riot/peter/schmerzl` in the second terminal.
-8. See the content being displayed. Be happy!
+6. Enter `ccnl_int /riot/peter/schmerzl` in the second terminal.
+7. See the content being displayed. Be happy!
 
 ## Makefile configuration
 
diff --git a/examples/ccn-lite-relay/main.c b/examples/ccn-lite-relay/main.c
index 38c31fb044..29bac37511 100644
--- a/examples/ccn-lite-relay/main.c
+++ b/examples/ccn-lite-relay/main.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "msg.h"
 #include "shell.h"
 #include "ccn-lite-riot.h"
+#include "net/gnrc/netif.h"
 
 /* main thread's message queue */
 #define MAIN_QUEUE_SIZE     (8)
@@ -42,6 +43,19 @@ int main(void)
 
     ccnl_core_init();
 
+    ccnl_start();
+
+    /* get the default interface */
+    kernel_pid_t ifs[GNRC_NETIF_NUMOF];
+    size_t ifnum = gnrc_netif_get(ifs);
+
+    /* set the relay's PID, configure the interface to interface to use CCN
+     * nettype */
+    if ((ifnum <= 0) || (ccnl_open_netif(ifs[0], GNRC_NETTYPE_CCN) < 0)) {
+        puts("Error registering at network interface!");
+        return -1;
+    }
+
     char line_buf[SHELL_DEFAULT_BUFSIZE];
     shell_run(NULL, line_buf, SHELL_DEFAULT_BUFSIZE);
     return 0;