diff --git a/dist/pythonlibs/riotctrl_shell/netif.py b/dist/pythonlibs/riotctrl_shell/netif.py
index 9784e0435a..e3ad811055 100644
--- a/dist/pythonlibs/riotctrl_shell/netif.py
+++ b/dist/pythonlibs/riotctrl_shell/netif.py
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ class Ifconfig(ShellInteraction):
         if args is not None:
             if netif is None:
                 raise ValueError("netif required when args are provided")
-            cmd += " {args}".format(args=" ".join(args))
+            cmd += " {args}".format(args=" ".join(str(a) for a in args))
         return self.cmd(cmd, timeout=timeout, async_=False)
 
     def ifconfig_help(self, netif, timeout=-1, async_=False):
diff --git a/dist/pythonlibs/riotctrl_shell/tests/test_netif.py b/dist/pythonlibs/riotctrl_shell/tests/test_netif.py
index c15c1bd7d2..b9e66fd7c8 100644
--- a/dist/pythonlibs/riotctrl_shell/tests/test_netif.py
+++ b/dist/pythonlibs/riotctrl_shell/tests/test_netif.py
@@ -76,12 +76,18 @@ def test_ifconfig_help():
     assert res == "ifconfig foobar help"
 
 
-def test_ifconfig_set():
-    rc = init_ctrl(output="success: address set")
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "option,value,expected",
+    [("addr", "42:de:ad:c0:ff:ee",
+      "ifconfig foobar set addr 42:de:ad:c0:ff:ee"),
+     ("chan", 17, "ifconfig foobar set chan 17")]
+)
+def test_ifconfig_set(option, value, expected):
+    rc = init_ctrl(output="success: option set")
     si = riotctrl_shell.netif.Ifconfig(rc)
-    res = si.ifconfig_set("foobar", "addr", "42:de:ad:c0:ff:ee")
-    assert res == "success: address set"
-    assert rc.term.last_command == "ifconfig foobar set addr 42:de:ad:c0:ff:ee"
+    res = si.ifconfig_set("foobar", option, value)
+    assert res == "success: option set"
+    assert rc.term.last_command == expected
 
 
 def test_ifconfig_set_error():