diff --git a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_fwd_w_sub/mockup_netif.c b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_fwd_w_sub/mockup_netif.c
index ec8ad924b0..acc1c3b7b8 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_fwd_w_sub/mockup_netif.c
+++ b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_fwd_w_sub/mockup_netif.c
@@ -69,10 +69,11 @@ void _tests_init(void)
         );
     _mock_netif = &_netif;
     expect(res == 0);
+
     gnrc_ipv6_nib_init();
-    gnrc_netif_acquire(_mock_netif);
     gnrc_ipv6_nib_init_iface(_mock_netif);
-    gnrc_netif_release(_mock_netif);
+    gnrc_ipv6_nib_iface_up(_mock_netif);
+
     /* we do not want to test for SLAAC here so just assure the configured
      * address is valid */
     expect(!ipv6_addr_is_unspecified(&_mock_netif->ipv6.addrs[0]));
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_nib/mockup_netif.c b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_nib/mockup_netif.c
index 22f2957f6e..2271589d05 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_nib/mockup_netif.c
+++ b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_nib/mockup_netif.c
@@ -39,9 +39,8 @@ void _common_set_up(void)
 {
     expect(_mock_netif != NULL);
     gnrc_ipv6_nib_init();
-    gnrc_netif_acquire(_mock_netif);
     gnrc_ipv6_nib_init_iface(_mock_netif);
-    gnrc_netif_release(_mock_netif);
+    gnrc_ipv6_nib_iface_up(_mock_netif);
 }
 
 int _get_device_type(netdev_t *dev, void *value, size_t max_len)
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_nib_6ln/mockup_netif.c b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_nib_6ln/mockup_netif.c
index 7d7b2c16d6..fde49b212b 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_ipv6_nib_6ln/mockup_netif.c
+++ b/tests/gnrc_ipv6_nib_6ln/mockup_netif.c
@@ -39,9 +39,8 @@ void _common_set_up(void)
 {
     expect(_mock_netif != NULL);
     gnrc_ipv6_nib_init();
-    gnrc_netif_acquire(_mock_netif);
     gnrc_ipv6_nib_init_iface(_mock_netif);
-    gnrc_netif_release(_mock_netif);
+    gnrc_ipv6_nib_iface_up(_mock_netif);
 }
 
 int _get_device_type(netdev_t *dev, void *value, size_t max_len)
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag_minfwd/main.c b/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag_minfwd/main.c
index 5829338ca5..dfe4908925 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag_minfwd/main.c
+++ b/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag_minfwd/main.c
@@ -310,6 +310,7 @@ static void _set_up(void)
            sizeof(_mock_netif->ipv6.addrs_flags));
     gnrc_ipv6_nib_init();
     gnrc_ipv6_nib_init_iface(_mock_netif);
+    gnrc_ipv6_nib_iface_up(_mock_netif);
     /* re-init for syncing */
     mutex_init(&_target_buf_filled);
     mutex_lock(&_target_buf_filled);
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag_minfwd/mockup_netif.c b/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag_minfwd/mockup_netif.c
index 7324899e5b..fe67d20c28 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag_minfwd/mockup_netif.c
+++ b/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag_minfwd/mockup_netif.c
@@ -38,9 +38,8 @@ void _common_set_up(void)
 {
     expect(_mock_netif != NULL);
     gnrc_ipv6_nib_init();
-    gnrc_netif_acquire(_mock_netif);
     gnrc_ipv6_nib_init_iface(_mock_netif);
-    gnrc_netif_release(_mock_netif);
+    gnrc_ipv6_nib_iface_up(_mock_netif);
 }
 
 int _get_device_type(netdev_t *dev, void *value, size_t max_len)
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag_sfr/main.c b/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag_sfr/main.c
index e11194835d..7a2b932aa7 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag_sfr/main.c
+++ b/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag_sfr/main.c
@@ -340,6 +340,7 @@ static void _set_up(void)
            sizeof(_mock_netif->ipv6.addrs_flags));
     gnrc_ipv6_nib_init();
     gnrc_ipv6_nib_init_iface(_mock_netif);
+    gnrc_ipv6_nib_iface_up(_mock_netif);
     /* re-init for syncing */
     mutex_init(&_target_buf_filled);
     mutex_lock(&_target_buf_filled);
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag_sfr/mockup_netif.c b/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag_sfr/mockup_netif.c
index be2b71fb13..ae7fec5725 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag_sfr/mockup_netif.c
+++ b/tests/gnrc_sixlowpan_frag_sfr/mockup_netif.c
@@ -38,9 +38,8 @@ void _common_set_up(void)
 {
     expect(_mock_netif != NULL);
     gnrc_ipv6_nib_init();
-    gnrc_netif_acquire(_mock_netif);
     gnrc_ipv6_nib_init_iface(_mock_netif);
-    gnrc_netif_release(_mock_netif);
+    gnrc_ipv6_nib_iface_up(_mock_netif);
 }
 
 int _get_device_type(netdev_t *dev, void *value, size_t max_len)