diff --git a/drivers/cc2420/cc2420.c b/drivers/cc2420/cc2420.c
index b8e8c2a0b2..76cbd51ebe 100644
--- a/drivers/cc2420/cc2420.c
+++ b/drivers/cc2420/cc2420.c
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ int cc2420_init(cc2420_t *dev)
     cc2420_reg_write(dev, CC2420_REG_MDMCTRL0, reg);
 
     /* go into RX state */
-    cc2420_set_state(dev, CC2420_GOTO_RX);
+    cc2420_set_state(dev, NETOPT_STATE_IDLE);
 
     return 0;
 }