diff --git a/Makefile.dep b/Makefile.dep
index 873f3ab98b..c2dcc9f659 100644
--- a/Makefile.dep
+++ b/Makefile.dep
@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@ ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_mac,$(USEMODULE)))
   endif
 endif
 
+# Don't register netdevs if there is only a single one  of them
+ifeq (,$(filter gnrc_netif_single,$(USEMODULE)))
+  USEMODULE += netdev_register
+endif
+
 ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_gomach,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += gnrc_netif
   USEMODULE += gnrc_nettype_gomach
diff --git a/drivers/include/net/netdev.h b/drivers/include/net/netdev.h
index 8ea89c5274..97d68196f5 100644
--- a/drivers/include/net/netdev.h
+++ b/drivers/include/net/netdev.h
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ extern "C" {
 
 #include "iolist.h"
 #include "net/netopt.h"
+#include "kernel_defines.h"
 
 #ifdef MODULE_L2FILTER
 #include "net/l2filter.h"
@@ -271,6 +272,18 @@ typedef struct netdev netdev_t;
  */
 typedef void (*netdev_event_cb_t)(netdev_t *dev, netdev_event_t event);
 
+/**
+ * @brief   Driver types for netdev.
+ * @{
+ */
+typedef enum {
+    NETDEV_ANY = 0,         /**< Will match any device type */
+    NETDEV_AT86RF215,
+    NETDEV_AT86RF2XX,
+    /* add more if needed */
+} netdev_type_t;
+/** @} */
+
 /**
  * @brief Structure to hold driver state
  *
@@ -290,8 +303,32 @@ struct netdev {
 #ifdef MODULE_L2FILTER
     l2filter_t filter[CONFIG_L2FILTER_LISTSIZE];   /**< link layer address filters */
 #endif
+#ifdef MODULE_NETDEV_REGISTER
+    netdev_type_t type;                     /**< driver type used for netdev */
+    uint8_t index;                          /**< instance number of the device */
+#endif
 };
 
+/**
+ * @brief Register a device with netdev.
+ *        Must by called by the driver's setup function.
+ *
+ * @param[out] dev          the new netdev
+ * @param[in]  type         the driver used for the netdev
+ * @param[in]  index        the index in the config struct
+ */
+static inline void netdev_register(struct netdev *dev, netdev_type_t type, uint8_t index)
+{
+#ifdef MODULE_NETDEV_REGISTER
+    dev->type  = type;
+    dev->index = index;
+#else
+    (void) dev;
+    (void) type;
+    (void) index;
+#endif
+}
+
 /**
  * @brief Structure to hold driver interface -> function mapping
  *
diff --git a/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk b/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk
index 003f06c3b3..d2b3405bae 100644
--- a/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ PSEUDOMODULES += mpu_noexec_ram
 PSEUDOMODULES += nanocoap_%
 PSEUDOMODULES += netdev_default
 PSEUDOMODULES += netdev_ieee802154_%
+PSEUDOMODULES += netdev_register
 PSEUDOMODULES += netstats
 PSEUDOMODULES += netstats_l2
 PSEUDOMODULES += netstats_ipv6