diff --git a/drivers/include/net/netdev.h b/drivers/include/net/netdev.h
index 9eb79a185e..2e186bcd9c 100644
--- a/drivers/include/net/netdev.h
+++ b/drivers/include/net/netdev.h
@@ -331,6 +331,14 @@ typedef enum {
  */
 #define NETDEV_INDEX_ANY    (0xFF)
 
+#if DOXYGEN
+/**
+ * @brief   Call @ref netdev_register_signal when the netdev device is
+ *          registered.
+ */
+#define CONFIG_NETDEV_REGISTER_SIGNAL 0
+#endif
+
 /**
  * @brief Structure to hold driver state
  *
@@ -356,6 +364,21 @@ struct netdev {
 #endif
 };
 
+/**
+ * @brief   Signal that the @ref netdev_register function registered the device.
+ *
+ *          This function is called right after @ref netdev_register registered
+ *          the device.
+ *
+ * @note    This function is called only if the CFLAG @ref
+ *          CONFIG_NETDEV_REGISTER_SIGNAL is set.
+ *
+ * @param[in] dev           pointer to the device descriptor
+ * @param[in] type          the driver used for the netdev
+ * @param[in] index         the index in the config struct
+ */
+void netdev_register_signal(struct netdev *dev, netdev_type_t type, uint8_t index);
+
 /**
  * @brief Register a device with netdev.
  *        Must by called by the driver's setup function.
@@ -374,6 +397,10 @@ static inline void netdev_register(struct netdev *dev, netdev_type_t type, uint8
     (void) type;
     (void) index;
 #endif
+
+    if (IS_ACTIVE(CONFIG_NETDEV_REGISTER_SIGNAL)) {
+        netdev_register_signal(dev, type, index);
+    }
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/tests/driver_at86rf215/Makefile b/tests/driver_at86rf215/Makefile
index bdddfa34f0..b9ae2606aa 100644
--- a/tests/driver_at86rf215/Makefile
+++ b/tests/driver_at86rf215/Makefile
@@ -5,4 +5,6 @@ USEMODULE += at86rf215
 USEMODULE += at86rf215_batmon
 USEMODULE += at86rf215_timestamp
 
+CFLAGS += -DCONFIG_NETDEV_REGISTER_SIGNAL
+
 include ../driver_netdev_common/Makefile.netdev.mk
diff --git a/tests/driver_at86rf215/main.c b/tests/driver_at86rf215/main.c
index 5366a0b6aa..4e8cc807a8 100644
--- a/tests/driver_at86rf215/main.c
+++ b/tests/driver_at86rf215/main.c
@@ -32,6 +32,18 @@
 #include "od.h"
 
 static char batmon_stack[THREAD_STACKSIZE_MAIN];
+static at86rf215_t *dev;
+
+void netdev_register_signal(netdev_t *netdev, netdev_type_t type, uint8_t index)
+{
+   (void) index;
+    netdev_ieee802154_t *netdev_ieee802154 = container_of(netdev,
+                                                          netdev_ieee802154_t,
+                                                          netdev);
+    if (type == NETDEV_AT86RF215 && !dev) {
+        dev = container_of(netdev_ieee802154, at86rf215_t, netdev);
+    }
+}
 
 void *batmon_thread(void *arg)
 {
@@ -91,19 +103,11 @@ static int cmd_set_trim(int argc, char **argv)
         return 1;
     }
 
-    gnrc_netif_t *netif = gnrc_netif_get_by_type(NETDEV_AT86RF215, 0);
-
-    if (netif == NULL) {
+    if (dev == NULL) {
         puts("No at86rf215 radio found");
         return 1;
     }
 
-    netdev_t *netdev = netif->dev;
-    netdev_ieee802154_t *netdev_ieee802154 = container_of(netdev,
-                                                          netdev_ieee802154_t,
-                                                          netdev);
-    at86rf215_t* dev = container_of(netdev_ieee802154, at86rf215_t, netdev);
-
     printf("setting trim to %u fF\n", 300U * trim);
     at86rf215_set_trim(dev, trim);
 
@@ -147,19 +151,11 @@ static int cmd_set_clock_out(int argc, char **argv)
         freq = tmp;
     }
 
-    gnrc_netif_t *netif = gnrc_netif_get_by_type(NETDEV_AT86RF215, 0);
-
-    if (netif == NULL) {
+    if (dev == NULL) {
         puts("No at86rf215 radio found");
         return 1;
     }
 
-    netdev_t *netdev = netif->dev;
-    netdev_ieee802154_t *netdev_ieee802154 = container_of(netdev,
-                                                          netdev_ieee802154_t,
-                                                          netdev);
-    at86rf215_t* dev = container_of(netdev_ieee802154, at86rf215_t, netdev);
-
     printf("Clock output set to %s %s\n", keys[freq], freq ? "MHz" : "");
     at86rf215_set_clock_output(dev, AT86RF215_CLKO_4mA, freq);
 
@@ -183,19 +179,11 @@ static int cmd_get_random(int argc, char **argv)
         return 1;
     }
 
-    gnrc_netif_t *netif = gnrc_netif_get_by_type(NETDEV_AT86RF215, 0);
-
-    if (netif == NULL) {
+    if (dev == NULL) {
         puts("No at86rf215 radio found");
         return 1;
     }
 
-    netdev_t *netdev = netif->dev;
-    netdev_ieee802154_t *netdev_ieee802154 = container_of(netdev,
-                                                          netdev_ieee802154_t,
-                                                          netdev);
-    at86rf215_t* dev = container_of(netdev_ieee802154, at86rf215_t, netdev);
-
     at86rf215_get_random(dev, buffer, values);
 
     od_hex_dump(buffer, values, 0);