diff --git a/sys/auto_init/auto_init.c b/sys/auto_init/auto_init.c
index ef809d82b841a1e9f34c15bdb2b97a4ad48e15d8..7d47c6334d15e060b0ec1cc9bfa499bc844fe0c2 100644
--- a/sys/auto_init/auto_init.c
+++ b/sys/auto_init/auto_init.c
@@ -84,6 +84,9 @@
 #include "net/skald.h"
 #endif
 
+#ifdef MODULE_NDN_RIOT
+#include "ndn-riot/ndn.h"
+#endif
 
 #define ENABLE_DEBUG (0)
 #include "debug.h"
@@ -265,6 +268,12 @@ void auto_init(void)
     auto_init_gnrc_uhcpc();
 #endif
 
+/* initialize NDN module after the network devices are initialized */
+#ifdef MODULE_NDN_RIOT
+    DEBUG("Auto init NDN module.\n");
+    ndn_init();
+#endif
+
 /* initialize sensors and actuators */
 #ifdef MODULE_AUTO_INIT_SAUL
     DEBUG("auto_init SAUL\n");