diff --git a/pkg/nimble/Makefile.include b/pkg/nimble/Makefile.include
index 2784227228..2428778c79 100644
--- a/pkg/nimble/Makefile.include
+++ b/pkg/nimble/Makefile.include
@@ -86,12 +86,6 @@ endif
 ifneq (,$(filter nimble_netif,$(USEMODULE)))
   INCLUDES += -I$(RIOTPKG)/nimble/netif/include
 
-  # when using IP, the host should have a higher prio than the netif thread, but
-  # MUST always have a lower priority then the controller thread. Setting it to
-  # controller prio plus will guarantee the latter while also matching the first
-  # condition as long as the default netif prio is not changed.
-  CFLAGS += -DNIMBLE_HOST_PRIO="(NIMBLE_CONTROLLER_PRIO + 1)"
-
   # configure NimBLE's internals
   NIMBLE_MAX_CONN ?= 3
   CFLAGS += -DMYNEWT_VAL_BLE_L2CAP_COC_MAX_NUM=$(NIMBLE_MAX_CONN)
diff --git a/pkg/nimble/contrib/include/nimble_riot.h b/pkg/nimble/contrib/include/nimble_riot.h
index dbb3b35350..b61aebd1c3 100644
--- a/pkg/nimble/contrib/include/nimble_riot.h
+++ b/pkg/nimble/contrib/include/nimble_riot.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #define NIMBLE_RIOT_H
 
 #include <stdint.h>
+#include "kernel_defines.h"
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
@@ -48,8 +49,18 @@ extern "C" {
  * @brief   Priority used for NimBLE's host thread
  */
 #ifndef NIMBLE_HOST_PRIO
+#if IS_USED(MODULE_NIMBLE_NETIF)
+/* when using IP, the host should have a higher prio than the netif thread, but
+ * MUST always have a lower priority then the controller thread. Setting it to
+ * controller prio plus will guarantee the latter while also matching the first
+ * condition as long as the default netif prio is not changed. */
+#define NIMBLE_HOST_PRIO            (NIMBLE_CONTROLLER_PRIO + 1)
+#else
 #define NIMBLE_HOST_PRIO            (THREAD_PRIORITY_MAIN - 2)
 #endif
+#endif
+
+
 
 /**
  * @brief   Stacksize used for NimBLE's host thread