diff --git a/Makefile.dep b/Makefile.dep
index 553b16894cd096884f779df20b992e23f4af7b70..bdb81e4c8d3458ae07fe22445c9d7f28abd94284 100644
--- a/Makefile.dep
+++ b/Makefile.dep
@@ -12,8 +12,33 @@ ifneq (,$(filter nhdp,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += oonf_rfc5444
 endif
 
+ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_netdev_default,$(USEMODULE)))
+  USEMODULE += gnrc_netif
+  USEMODULE += netdev_default
+endif
+
+ifneq (,$(filter cc110x,$(USEMODULE)))
+  ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_netdev_default,$(USEMODULE)))
+    USEMODULE += gnrc_cc110x
+	# XXX: this can be modelled as a dependency for gnrc_netdev_default as soon
+	# as all drivers are ported to netdev2
+	USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev2
+  endif
+endif
+
+ifneq (,$(filter kw2xrf,$(USEMODULE)))
+  ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_netdev_default,$(USEMODULE)))
+    USEMODULE += gnrc_nomac
+  endif
+endif
+
 ifneq (,$(filter at86rf2%,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += netdev2_ieee802154
+  ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_netdev_default,$(USEMODULE)))
+	# XXX: this can be modelled as a dependency for gnrc_netdev_default as soon
+	# as all drivers are ported to netdev2
+    USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev2
+  endif
 endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter netdev2_ieee802154,$(USEMODULE)))
@@ -32,10 +57,6 @@ ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_conn_udp,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += gnrc_udp
 endif
 
-ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_netif_default,$(USEMODULE)))
-  USEMODULE += gnrc_netif
-endif
-
 ifneq (,$(filter netdev2_tap,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += netif
   USEMODULE += netdev2_eth
diff --git a/Makefile.pseudomodules b/Makefile.pseudomodules
index 93be127dd74868e557564e3fa08e97bfd1f3c8d4..ffd345d638df59038b1378e1720322b777aee8c8 100644
--- a/Makefile.pseudomodules
+++ b/Makefile.pseudomodules
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ PSEUDOMODULES += conn
 PSEUDOMODULES += conn_ip
 PSEUDOMODULES += conn_tcp
 PSEUDOMODULES += conn_udp
-PSEUDOMODULES += gnrc_netif_default
+PSEUDOMODULES += gnrc_netdev_default
 PSEUDOMODULES += gnrc_ipv6_default
 PSEUDOMODULES += gnrc_ipv6_router
 PSEUDOMODULES += gnrc_ipv6_router_default
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ PSEUDOMODULES += gnrc_sixlowpan_iphc_nhc
 PSEUDOMODULES += gnrc_pktbuf
 PSEUDOMODULES += log
 PSEUDOMODULES += log_printfnoformat
+PSEUDOMODULES += netdev_default
 PSEUDOMODULES += newlib
 PSEUDOMODULES += newlib_nano
 PSEUDOMODULES += pktqueue
diff --git a/boards/fox/Makefile.dep b/boards/fox/Makefile.dep
index 1a15e53a2e5a75fe39079c8976b2df2233b9ed0c..f58546b86bffcd60377af2b77eaa310e527f860b 100644
--- a/boards/fox/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/fox/Makefile.dep
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_netif_default,$(USEMODULE)))
+ifneq (,$(filter netdev_default gnrc_netdev_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += at86rf231
-  USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev2
 endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter saul_default,$(USEMODULE)))
diff --git a/boards/iotlab-m3/Makefile.dep b/boards/iotlab-m3/Makefile.dep
index 92db731b1c93ae87c3d733eded296b8b26d754c3..dda6d2ea738986f34c1544574f4531ed117e83bd 100644
--- a/boards/iotlab-m3/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/iotlab-m3/Makefile.dep
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_netif_default,$(USEMODULE)))
+ifneq (,$(filter netdev_default gnrc_netdev_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += at86rf231
-  USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev2
 endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter saul_default,$(USEMODULE)))
diff --git a/boards/msba2/Makefile.include b/boards/msba2/Makefile.include
index 50d0de0347fa06cf03c028d2ecb15042ce0d7d54..f7d05c148dbb9ab517d5af4675d39bf5ea668662 100644
--- a/boards/msba2/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/msba2/Makefile.include
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_netif_default,$(USEMODULE)))
-	USEMODULE += cc110x gnrc_netdev2 gnrc_cc110x
+ifneq (,$(filter netdev_default gnrc_netdev_default,$(USEMODULE)))
+	USEMODULE += cc110x
 endif
 
 USEMODULE += msba2-common
diff --git a/boards/mulle/Makefile.dep b/boards/mulle/Makefile.dep
index cc3714b7c951a8d94b02bc2200b6962411fb8b2f..d2c93c70bcb4df10652af98449da375b37f94c3c 100644
--- a/boards/mulle/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/mulle/Makefile.dep
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_netif_default,$(USEMODULE)))
+ifneq (,$(filter netdev_default gnrc_netdev_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += at86rf212b
-  USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev2
 endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter saul_default,$(USEMODULE)))
diff --git a/boards/native/Makefile.dep b/boards/native/Makefile.dep
index 76c68a2dafe701edec095ffb1062a71e49f33dab..0806ebe2a709db9e1a80d5352ea2d50c5169c91d 100644
--- a/boards/native/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/native/Makefile.dep
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_netif_default,$(USEMODULE)))
+ifneq (,$(filter netdev_default gnrc_netdev_default,$(USEMODULE)))
     USEMODULE += netdev2_tap
-    USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev2
 endif
diff --git a/boards/pba-d-01-kw2x/Makefile.dep b/boards/pba-d-01-kw2x/Makefile.dep
index f566299123e85a4a6c2448196ec3738a7b3c9943..2fce1f0a461adab9dc56dc006c4b166821e3cc2c 100644
--- a/boards/pba-d-01-kw2x/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/pba-d-01-kw2x/Makefile.dep
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_netif_default,$(USEMODULE)))
+ifneq (,$(filter netdev_default gnrc_netdev_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += kw2xrf
-  USEMODULE += gnrc_nomac
 endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter saul_default,$(USEMODULE)))
diff --git a/boards/samr21-xpro/Makefile.dep b/boards/samr21-xpro/Makefile.dep
index 874b4f2a5e38d5c33b0b994bf2ca9b3bfa160685..9cee237662ba6576ed96b14af2d5a8fe60c54e33 100644
--- a/boards/samr21-xpro/Makefile.dep
+++ b/boards/samr21-xpro/Makefile.dep
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_netif_default,$(USEMODULE)))
+ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_netdev_default netdev_default,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += at86rf233
-  USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev2
 endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter saul_default,$(USEMODULE)))
diff --git a/cpu/native/README.md b/cpu/native/README.md
index fe7832fec52f7de8225e4f1c322c47fd507d1401..d3d63f55bfe5192818c95c8264bb5e4f11597ad2 100644
--- a/cpu/native/README.md
+++ b/cpu/native/README.md
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ module, you need to specify a network interface like this:
     make term PORT=tap0
 
 **Please note:** in case you're using RIOT's default network stack, the GNRC
-stack, you may also use `gnrc_netif_default` module and also add
+stack, you may also use `gnrc_netdev_default` module and also add
 `auto_init_gnrc_netif` in order to automatically initialize the interface.
 
 
diff --git a/examples/ccn-lite-relay/Makefile b/examples/ccn-lite-relay/Makefile
index f481e4b55e57726644df5e5a9aec17c41e2a0bc0..c4c44f64d0011467ecc0a15c3aa73518c571d5c1 100644
--- a/examples/ccn-lite-relay/Makefile
+++ b/examples/ccn-lite-relay/Makefile
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ USEMODULE += shell
 USEMODULE += shell_commands
 # Include packages that pull up and auto-init the link layer.
 # NOTE: 6LoWPAN will be included if IEEE802.15.4 devices are present
-USEMODULE += gnrc_netif_default
+USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev_default
 USEMODULE += auto_init_gnrc_netif
 USEMODULE += timex
 USEMODULE += xtimer
diff --git a/examples/default/Makefile b/examples/default/Makefile
index 1db4b1ac22d449d154330262304456e870e7f628..9d5206cbd6f25a23eac9b30a6b342daedf85422f 100644
--- a/examples/default/Makefile
+++ b/examples/default/Makefile
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ ifneq (,$(filter $(BOARD),$(BOARD_PROVIDES_NETIF)))
   # gnrc is a meta module including all required, basic gnrc networking modules
   USEMODULE += gnrc
   # use the default network interface for the board
-  USEMODULE += gnrc_netif_default
+  USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev_default
   # automatically initialize the network interface
   USEMODULE += auto_init_gnrc_netif
   # the application dumps received packets to stdout
diff --git a/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile b/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile
index cbbe76ffa531d7818559c58c5b6cc0d72ce09d35..1dde2b2a1304b31b9f4cb3315c17f252d0c0bb61 100644
--- a/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile
+++ b/examples/gnrc_border_router/Makefile
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ CFLAGS += -DSLIP_BAUDRATE=$(SLIP_BAUDRATE)
 
 # Include packages that pull up and auto-init the link layer.
 # NOTE: 6LoWPAN will be included if IEEE802.15.4 devices are present
-USEMODULE += gnrc_netif_default
+USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev_default
 USEMODULE += auto_init_gnrc_netif
 # Include SLIP package for IP over Serial communication
 USEMODULE += gnrc_slip
diff --git a/examples/gnrc_minimal/Makefile b/examples/gnrc_minimal/Makefile
index ed5126ce21e200db01cbcd9326822b8274857eb7..702e9d45ab5e38bd72a3de9ba7987cee92d82d56 100644
--- a/examples/gnrc_minimal/Makefile
+++ b/examples/gnrc_minimal/Makefile
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ BOARD_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY := chronos msb-430 msb-430h
 
 # Include packages that pull up and auto-init the link layer.
 # NOTE: 6LoWPAN will be included if IEEE802.15.4 devices are present
-USEMODULE += gnrc_netif_default
+USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev_default
 USEMODULE += auto_init_gnrc_netif
 # Specify the minimum networking modules for IPv6
 USEMODULE += gnrc_ipv6
diff --git a/examples/gnrc_networking/Makefile b/examples/gnrc_networking/Makefile
index c7eb7c84c00ea2e948ee1c5fcc8fbe7a35cb6953..b5b534e9267e0668b4a7cc90d69cca04f8336552 100644
--- a/examples/gnrc_networking/Makefile
+++ b/examples/gnrc_networking/Makefile
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ BOARD_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY := airfy-beacon chronos msb-430 msb-430h nrf51dongle \
 
 # Include packages that pull up and auto-init the link layer.
 # NOTE: 6LoWPAN will be included if IEEE802.15.4 devices are present
-USEMODULE += gnrc_netif_default
+USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev_default
 USEMODULE += auto_init_gnrc_netif
 # Specify the mandatory networking modules for IPv6 and UDP
 USEMODULE += gnrc_ipv6_router_default
diff --git a/examples/gnrc_tftp/Makefile b/examples/gnrc_tftp/Makefile
index 3c06fc1f2e41bdb7cdd775030791247c8c4eaa47..bad532d2851d1cbeee7f283ab59984920be83ac2 100644
--- a/examples/gnrc_tftp/Makefile
+++ b/examples/gnrc_tftp/Makefile
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ BOARD_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY := airfy-beacon chronos msb-430 msb-430h nrf51dongle \
 
 # Include packages that pull up and auto-init the link layer.
 # NOTE: 6LoWPAN will be included if IEEE802.15.4 devices are present
-USEMODULE += gnrc_netif_default
+USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev_default
 USEMODULE += auto_init_gnrc_netif
 # Specify the mandatory networking modules for IPv6 and UDP
 USEMODULE += gnrc_ipv6_router_default
diff --git a/examples/microcoap_server/Makefile b/examples/microcoap_server/Makefile
index ea269df9251753f27004709198e20ded29ea22ae..74de95f902e8b4a336509057f8690136fd8ed8c6 100644
--- a/examples/microcoap_server/Makefile
+++ b/examples/microcoap_server/Makefile
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ BOARD_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY := airfy-beacon chronos msb-430 msb-430h nrf51dongle \
 
 # Include packages that pull up and auto-init the link layer.
 # NOTE: 6LoWPAN will be included if IEEE802.15.4 devices are present
-USEMODULE += gnrc_netif_default
+USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev_default
 USEMODULE += auto_init_gnrc_netif
 # Specify the mandatory networking modules for IPv6 and UDP
 USEMODULE += gnrc_ipv6_router_default
diff --git a/examples/posix_sockets/Makefile b/examples/posix_sockets/Makefile
index c58f418949b165db88a8d41a01430acd5ec90d83..a4d77e515d95273aeb055e0895f75cd48ed75263 100644
--- a/examples/posix_sockets/Makefile
+++ b/examples/posix_sockets/Makefile
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ BOARD_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY := airfy-beacon chronos msb-430 msb-430h nrf51dongle n
 
 # Include packages that pull up and auto-init the link layer.
 # NOTE: 6LoWPAN will be included if IEEE802.15.4 devices are present
-USEMODULE += gnrc_netif_default
+USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev_default
 USEMODULE += auto_init_gnrc_netif
 # Specify the mandatory networking modules for socket communication via UDP
 USEMODULE += gnrc_ipv6_default
diff --git a/sys/include/net/gnrc.h b/sys/include/net/gnrc.h
index 7a2145d8a40b27077c48586d861364490622a85a..89ffb966968c4c5457ecd4d8f9f593064ed1f8be 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/gnrc.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/gnrc.h
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@
  *
  * - To include the default network device(s) on your board:
  *   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ {.mk}
- *   USEMODULE += gnrc_netif_default
+ *   USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev_default
  *   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  *
  * - To auto-initialize these network devices as GNRC network interfaces
diff --git a/tests/conn_ip/Makefile b/tests/conn_ip/Makefile
index 99f35e01450eed5c5d9462a17d87f6ec7985dc0c..ecf8a496d08b95814e2dfdb56eb30ef26bbad285 100644
--- a/tests/conn_ip/Makefile
+++ b/tests/conn_ip/Makefile
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ RIOTBASE ?= $(CURDIR)/../..
 BOARD_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY := chronos msb-430 msb-430h nucleo-f334 stm32f0discovery telosb \
                              weio wsn430-v1_3b wsn430-v1_4 z1
 
-USEMODULE += gnrc_netif_default
+USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev_default
 USEMODULE += auto_init_gnrc_netif
 USEMODULE += gnrc_icmpv6_echo
 USEMODULE += gnrc_ipv6_default
diff --git a/tests/driver_enc28j60/Makefile b/tests/driver_enc28j60/Makefile
index c17e17d78c2dfacb9cd1e85555e892695e12eaa7..c324d3c0471038358fdad099eac865821c0251d1 100644
--- a/tests/driver_enc28j60/Makefile
+++ b/tests/driver_enc28j60/Makefile
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ FEATURES_REQUIRED = periph_spi periph_gpio
 BOARD_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY := msb-430h nucleo-f334 stm32f0discovery weio z1
 
 USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev2
-USEMODULE += gnrc_netif_default
+USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev_default
 USEMODULE += auto_init_gnrc_netif
 USEMODULE += enc28j60
 USEMODULE += gnrc_ipv6_router_default
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile
index 3a4db2d10e3a192fce10988f4de140d35f3f6c8a..ffa542c1afd8d2acad8388ef7c993c550684f58b 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_ext/Makefile
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ BOARD_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY := airfy-beacon chronos msb-430 msb-430h nrf51dongle \
 
 # Include packages that pull up and auto-init the link layer.
 # NOTE: 6LoWPAN will be included if IEEE802.15.4 devices are present
-USEMODULE += gnrc_netif_default
+USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev_default
 USEMODULE += auto_init_gnrc_netif
 # Specify the mandatory networking modules for IPv6
 USEMODULE += gnrc_ipv6_router_default
diff --git a/tests/zep/Makefile b/tests/zep/Makefile
index 4c65e3c364ea61ec08eb75b27b07892d1ac4759f..529ab8487f9786a455beec8b7c209f8a82161123 100644
--- a/tests/zep/Makefile
+++ b/tests/zep/Makefile
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ include ../Makefile.tests_common
 BOARD_WHITELIST = native
 
 USEMODULE += gnrc_zep
-USEMODULE += gnrc_netif_default
+USEMODULE += gnrc_netdev_default
 USEMODULE += auto_init_gnrc_netif
 USEMODULE += gnrc_ipv6_default
 USEMODULE += gnrc_nomac
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ CFLAGS += -DZEP_DST="\"$(ZEP_DST)\""
 CFLAGS += -DZEP_SRC_PORT=$(ZEP_SRC_PORT)
 CFLAGS += -DZEP_DST_PORT=$(ZEP_DST_PORT)
 
-# one for gnrc_netif_default and one for ZEP
+# one for gnrc_netdev_default and one for ZEP
 CFLAGS += -DGNRC_NETIF_NUMOF=2
 
 include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include