diff --git a/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.include b/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.include
index 0bf5dfcb0e..5712804a6d 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.include
+++ b/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.include
@@ -22,9 +22,5 @@ RAM_START_ADDR ?= 0x20000000
 
 LINKER_SCRIPT ?= cortexm.ld
 
-ifneq (,$(filter nrf802154,$(USEMODULE)))
-  CFLAGS += -DGNRC_NETIF_MSG_QUEUE_SIZE=16
-endif
-
 include $(RIOTCPU)/nrf5x_common/Makefile.include
 include $(RIOTMAKE)/arch/cortexm.inc.mk
diff --git a/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif/conf.h b/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif/conf.h
index c16ab77b41..7704ee639b 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif/conf.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/gnrc/netif/conf.h
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ extern "C" {
  *              changed.
  */
 #ifndef GNRC_NETIF_MSG_QUEUE_SIZE
-#define GNRC_NETIF_MSG_QUEUE_SIZE  (8U)
+#define GNRC_NETIF_MSG_QUEUE_SIZE  (16U)
 #endif
 
 /**