diff --git a/sys/include/transceiver.h b/sys/include/transceiver.h
index ae35a4b9a7..152406d9bb 100644
--- a/sys/include/transceiver.h
+++ b/sys/include/transceiver.h
@@ -29,7 +29,9 @@
 #define TRANSCEIVER_STACK_SIZE      (KERNEL_CONF_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT)
 #endif
 
+#ifndef PAYLOAD_SIZE
 #define PAYLOAD_SIZE  (0)
+#endif
 #ifdef MODULE_CC110X
 #if (CC1100_MAX_DATA_LENGTH > PAYLOAD_SIZE)
 #undef PAYLOAD_SIZE