diff --git a/drivers/atwinc15x0/atwinc15x0_netdev.c b/drivers/atwinc15x0/atwinc15x0_netdev.c
index 94fdf93969..54b90b0e22 100644
--- a/drivers/atwinc15x0/atwinc15x0_netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/atwinc15x0/atwinc15x0_netdev.c
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ static int _atwinc15x0_get(netdev_t *netdev, netopt_t opt, void *val,
             return sizeof(uint16_t);
 
         case NETOPT_RSSI:
-            assert(max_len == sizeof(int8_t));
+            assert(max_len == sizeof(int16_t));
             _rssi_info_ready = false;
             /* trigger the request current RSSI (asynchronous function) */
             if (m2m_wifi_req_curr_rssi() != M2M_SUCCESS) {
@@ -384,8 +384,8 @@ static int _atwinc15x0_get(netdev_t *netdev, netopt_t opt, void *val,
                 ztimer_sleep(ZTIMER_MSEC, ATWINC15X0_WAIT_TIME_MS);
             }
             /* return the RSSI */
-            *((int8_t *)val) = dev->rssi;
-            return sizeof(int8_t);
+            *((int16_t *)val) = dev->rssi;
+            return sizeof(int16_t);
 
         default:
             return netdev_eth_get(netdev, opt, val, max_len);
diff --git a/drivers/include/net/netdev/lora.h b/drivers/include/net/netdev/lora.h
index fc89a2ce24..4967930769 100644
--- a/drivers/include/net/netdev/lora.h
+++ b/drivers/include/net/netdev/lora.h
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ extern "C" {
  * @brief   Received LoRa packet status information
  */
 typedef struct {
-    uint8_t rssi;           /**< RSSI of a received packet */
+    int16_t rssi;           /**< RSSI of a received packet */
     int8_t snr;             /**< S/N ratio */
 } netdev_lora_rx_info_t;
 
diff --git a/drivers/sx126x/sx126x_netdev.c b/drivers/sx126x/sx126x_netdev.c
index 4d8ec8dc1a..6940e20a0b 100644
--- a/drivers/sx126x/sx126x_netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/sx126x/sx126x_netdev.c
@@ -291,9 +291,9 @@ static int _get(netdev_t *netdev, netopt_t opt, void *val, size_t max_len)
         return sizeof(netopt_enable_t);
 
     case NETOPT_RSSI:
-        assert(max_len >= sizeof(int8_t));
+        assert(max_len >= sizeof(int16_t));
         sx126x_get_rssi_inst(dev, ((int16_t *)val));
-        return sizeof(int8_t);
+        return sizeof(int16_t);
 
     default:
         break;
diff --git a/drivers/sx127x/sx127x_netdev.c b/drivers/sx127x/sx127x_netdev.c
index c4d9667f24..c2091fea26 100644
--- a/drivers/sx127x/sx127x_netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/sx127x/sx127x_netdev.c
@@ -345,9 +345,9 @@ static int _get(netdev_t *netdev, netopt_t opt, void *val, size_t max_len)
         return sizeof(netopt_enable_t);
 
     case NETOPT_RSSI:
-        assert(max_len >= sizeof(int8_t));
-        *((int8_t *)val) = sx127x_read_rssi(dev);
-        return sizeof(int8_t);
+        assert(max_len >= sizeof(int16_t));
+        *((int16_t *)val) = sx127x_read_rssi(dev);
+        return sizeof(int16_t);
 
     default:
         break;
diff --git a/pkg/semtech-loramac/contrib/semtech_loramac_radio.c b/pkg/semtech-loramac/contrib/semtech_loramac_radio.c
index ea05dcb2ac..3d301b5221 100644
--- a/pkg/semtech-loramac/contrib/semtech_loramac_radio.c
+++ b/pkg/semtech-loramac/contrib/semtech_loramac_radio.c
@@ -205,8 +205,8 @@ void SX127XStartCad(void)
 int16_t SX127XRssi(RadioModems_t modem)
 {
     (void)modem;
-    int8_t rssi;
-    loramac_netdev_ptr->driver->get(loramac_netdev_ptr, NETOPT_RSSI, &rssi, sizeof(int8_t));
+    int16_t rssi;
+    loramac_netdev_ptr->driver->get(loramac_netdev_ptr, NETOPT_RSSI, &rssi, sizeof(int16_t));
     return rssi;
 }
 
diff --git a/sys/include/net/netopt.h b/sys/include/net/netopt.h
index 641ab8de7d..d072f22300 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/netopt.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/netopt.h
@@ -772,7 +772,7 @@ typedef enum {
     NETOPT_LINK_CHECK,
 
     /**
-     * @brief (int8_t) Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI)
+     * @brief (int16_t) Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI)
      *
      * The RSSI is an indicator for the received field strength in wireless
      * channels. It is often represented as the ratio of received power to
diff --git a/sys/shell/commands/sc_gnrc_netif.c b/sys/shell/commands/sc_gnrc_netif.c
index 8ad83d7fc6..4f82162b00 100644
--- a/sys/shell/commands/sc_gnrc_netif.c
+++ b/sys/shell/commands/sc_gnrc_netif.c
@@ -607,7 +607,6 @@ static void _netif_list(netif_t *iface)
     uint16_t u16;
     int16_t i16;
     uint8_t u8;
-    int8_t i8;
     int res;
     netopt_state_t state;
     unsigned line_thresh = 1;
@@ -639,9 +638,9 @@ static void _netif_list(netif_t *iface)
     if (res >= 0) {
         printf(" NID: 0x%" PRIx16 " ", u16);
     }
-    res = netif_get_opt(iface, NETOPT_RSSI, 0, &i8, sizeof(i8));
+    res = netif_get_opt(iface, NETOPT_RSSI, 0, &i16, sizeof(i16));
     if (res >= 0) {
-        printf(" RSSI: %d ", i8);
+        printf(" RSSI: %d ", i16);
     }
 #ifdef MODULE_GNRC_NETIF_CMD_LORA
     res = netif_get_opt(iface, NETOPT_BANDWIDTH, 0, &u8, sizeof(u8));