diff --git a/Makefile.dep b/Makefile.dep
index 654daa430d..fdf45f1a7d 100644
--- a/Makefile.dep
+++ b/Makefile.dep
@@ -68,7 +68,16 @@ ifneq (,$(filter nordic_softdevice_ble,$(USEPKG)))
   USEMODULE += ble_6lowpan
   USEMODULE += gnrc_sixlowpan
   USEMODULE += gnrc_sixlowpan_iphc
+  USEMODULE += gnrc_ipv6_nib_6ln
   USEMODULE += gnrc_ipv6_default
+  # prevent application from being a router
+  # TODO: maybe find a nicer solution in future build system update
+  _ROUTER_MODULES = gnrc_ipv6_router% gnrc_rpl netstats_rpl auto_init_gnrc_rpl
+  ifneq (,$(filter $(_ROUTER_MODULES),$(USEMODULE)))
+    $(warning nordic_softdevice_ble: Disabling router modules:\
+      $(filter $(_ROUTER_MODULES),$(USEMODULE)))
+  endif
+  USEMODULE := $(filter-out $(_ROUTER_MODULES),$(USEMODULE))
 endif
 
 ifneq (,$(filter gnrc_%,$(filter-out gnrc_netapi gnrc_netreg gnrc_netif% gnrc_pkt%,$(USEMODULE))))
diff --git a/boards/common/nrf52xxxdk/Makefile.include b/boards/common/nrf52xxxdk/Makefile.include
index 891d306833..21cd813ecd 100644
--- a/boards/common/nrf52xxxdk/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/common/nrf52xxxdk/Makefile.include
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 # this module contains shared code for all boards using the nrf52 CPU
 export CPU = nrf52
 
+# get SoftDevice dependency if needed (dirty hack!)
+include $(RIOTBOARD)/$(BOARD)/Makefile.dep
+
 # include this module into the build
 ifeq (,$(filter thingy52 acd52832,$(BOARD)))
   INCLUDES += -I$(RIOTBOARD)/common/nrf52xxxdk/include
@@ -15,6 +18,11 @@ include $(RIOTMAKE)/tools/serial.inc.mk
 # setup JLink for flashing
 export JLINK_DEVICE := nrf52
 
+# The following configuration is dependencies specific
+# but they are resolved later
+# Hack to know now if 'nordic_softdevice_ble' is used
+include $(RIOTBOARD)/$(BOARD)/Makefile.dep
+
 # special options when using SoftDevice
 ifneq (,$(filter nordic_softdevice_ble,$(USEPKG)))
   export JLINK_PRE_FLASH := erase\nloadfile $(BINDIR)/softdevice.hex
diff --git a/cpu/nrf52/cpu.c b/cpu/nrf52/cpu.c
index 2d01ff28ff..e0dfd28c65 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf52/cpu.c
+++ b/cpu/nrf52/cpu.c
@@ -68,14 +68,13 @@ void cpu_init(void)
 #ifdef SOFTDEVICE_PRESENT
     softdevice_handler_init(NRF_CLOCK_LFCLKSRC_XTAL_20_PPM, &_ble_evt_buffer,
             BLE_STACK_EVT_MSG_BUF_SIZE, NULL);
-#endif
-    /* call cortexm default initialization */
-    cortexm_init();
 
-#ifdef SOFTDEVICE_PRESENT
     /* fixup swi0 (used as softdevice PendSV trampoline) */
     NVIC_EnableIRQ(SWI0_EGU0_IRQn);
     NVIC_SetPriority(SWI0_EGU0_IRQn, 6);
+#else
+    /* call cortexm default initialization */
+    cortexm_init();
 #endif
 
     /* enable wake up on events for __WFE CPU sleep */
diff --git a/drivers/include/net/netdev.h b/drivers/include/net/netdev.h
index 51910edeb5..29dc18170e 100644
--- a/drivers/include/net/netdev.h
+++ b/drivers/include/net/netdev.h
@@ -211,6 +211,7 @@ enum {
     NETDEV_TYPE_RAW,
     NETDEV_TYPE_ETHERNET,
     NETDEV_TYPE_IEEE802154,
+    NETDEV_TYPE_BLE,
     NETDEV_TYPE_CC110X,
     NETDEV_TYPE_LORA,
     NETDEV_TYPE_NRFMIN,
diff --git a/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/src/gnrc_nordic_ble_6lowpan.c b/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/src/gnrc_nordic_ble_6lowpan.c
index 394da94575..312a6135b4 100644
--- a/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/src/gnrc_nordic_ble_6lowpan.c
+++ b/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/src/gnrc_nordic_ble_6lowpan.c
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@
 
 #define BLE_PRIO                    (GNRC_NETIF_PRIO)
 
+/* XXX: netdev required by gnrc_netif, but not implemented fully for
+ * nordic_softdevice_ble for legacy reasons */
+
 static char _stack[(THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT + DEBUG_EXTRA_STACKSIZE)];
 
 static gnrc_netif_t *_ble_netif = NULL;
@@ -73,7 +76,7 @@ static void _ble_mac_callback(ble_mac_event_enum_t event, void* arg)
 {
     msg_t m = { .type=event, .content.ptr=arg };
 
-    if ((_ble_netif != NULL) || !msg_send_int(&m, _ble_netif->pid)) {
+    if ((_ble_netif == NULL) || !msg_send_int(&m, _ble_netif->pid)) {
         puts("_ble_mac_callback(): possibly lost interrupt");
     }
 }
@@ -174,45 +177,51 @@ static int _send(gnrc_pktsnip_t *pkt)
 
     return 0;
 }
-static int _handle_get(gnrc_netapi_opt_t *_opt)
+
+static int _netdev_init(netdev_t *dev)
+{
+    _ble_netif = dev->context;
+    ble_stack_init();
+    ble_mac_init(_ble_mac_callback);
+    _ble_netif->l2addr_len = BLE_SIXLOWPAN_L2_ADDR_LEN;
+    ble_get_mac(_ble_netif->l2addr);
+    ble_advertising_init("RIOT BLE");
+    ble_advertising_start();
+    return 0;
+}
+
+static int _netdev_get(netdev_t *netdev, netopt_t opt,
+                       void *v, size_t max_len)
 {
     int res = -ENOTSUP;
-    uint8_t *value = _opt->data;
+    uint8_t *value = v;
 
-    switch (_opt->opt) {
-        case NETOPT_ACK_REQ:
-        case NETOPT_CHANNEL:
-        case NETOPT_NID:
-        case NETOPT_ADDRESS:
-            /* -ENOTSUP */
-            break;
+    (void)netdev;
+    switch (opt) {
         case NETOPT_ADDRESS_LONG:
-            assert(_opt->data_len >= BLE_SIXLOWPAN_L2_ADDR_LEN);
+            assert(max_len >= BLE_SIXLOWPAN_L2_ADDR_LEN);
             memcpy(value, _ble_netif->l2addr, BLE_SIXLOWPAN_L2_ADDR_LEN);
-            value[0] = IPV6_IID_FLIP_VALUE;
             res = BLE_SIXLOWPAN_L2_ADDR_LEN;
             break;
         case NETOPT_ADDR_LEN:
         case NETOPT_SRC_LEN:
-            assert(_opt->data_len == sizeof(uint16_t));
+            assert(max_len == sizeof(uint16_t));
             *((uint16_t *)value) = BLE_SIXLOWPAN_L2_ADDR_LEN;
             res = sizeof(uint16_t);
             break;
-#ifdef MODULE_GNRC
         case NETOPT_PROTO:
-            assert(_opt->data_len == sizeof(gnrc_nettype_t));
+            assert(max_len == sizeof(gnrc_nettype_t));
             *((gnrc_nettype_t *)value) = GNRC_NETTYPE_SIXLOWPAN;
             res = sizeof(gnrc_nettype_t);
             break;
-#endif
-/*        case NETOPT_DEVICE_TYPE:
-            assert(_opt->data_len == sizeof(uint16_t));
-            *((uint16_t *)value) = NETDEV_TYPE_IEEE802154;
+        case NETOPT_DEVICE_TYPE:
+            assert(max_len == sizeof(uint16_t));
+            *((uint16_t *)value) = NETDEV_TYPE_BLE;
             res = sizeof(uint16_t);
-            break;*/
+            break;
         case NETOPT_IPV6_IID:
             memcpy(value, _ble_netif->l2addr, BLE_SIXLOWPAN_L2_ADDR_LEN);
-            value[0] = IPV6_IID_FLIP_VALUE;
+            value[0] ^= IPV6_IID_FLIP_VALUE;
             res = BLE_SIXLOWPAN_L2_ADDR_LEN;
             break;
         default:
@@ -221,20 +230,20 @@ static int _handle_get(gnrc_netapi_opt_t *_opt)
     return res;
 }
 
-static void _netif_init(gnrc_netif_t *netif)
+static int _netdev_set(netdev_t *netdev, netopt_t opt,
+                       const void *value, size_t value_len)
 {
-    ble_stack_init();
-    ble_mac_init(_ble_mac_callback);
-    netif->l2addr_len = BLE_SIXLOWPAN_L2_ADDR_LEN;
-    ble_get_mac(netif->l2addr);
-    ble_advertising_init("RIOT BLE");
-    ble_advertising_start();
+    (void)netdev;
+    (void)opt;
+    (void)value;
+    (void)value_len;
+    return -ENOTSUP;
 }
 
 static int _netif_send(gnrc_netif_t *netif, gnrc_pktsnip_t *pkt)
 {
     (void)netif;
-    assert(netif != _ble_netif);
+    assert(netif == _ble_netif);
     return _send(pkt);
 }
 
@@ -245,21 +254,6 @@ static gnrc_pktsnip_t *_netif_recv(gnrc_netif_t *netif)
     return NULL;
 }
 
-static int _netif_get(gnrc_netif_t *netif, gnrc_netapi_opt_t *opt)
-{
-    (void)netif;
-    assert(netif != _ble_netif);
-    return _handle_get(opt);
-}
-
-static int _netif_set(gnrc_netif_t *netif, const gnrc_netapi_opt_t *opt)
-{
-    (void)netif;
-    (void)opt;
-    /* not supported */
-    return -ENOTSUP;
-}
-
 static void _netif_msg_handler(gnrc_netif_t *netif, msg_t *msg)
 {
     switch (msg->type) {
@@ -274,16 +268,29 @@ static void _netif_msg_handler(gnrc_netif_t *netif, msg_t *msg)
 }
 
 static const gnrc_netif_ops_t _ble_ops = {
-    .init = _netif_init,
+    .init = NULL,
     .send = _netif_send,
     .recv = _netif_recv,
-    .get = _netif_get,
-    .set = _netif_set,
+    .get = gnrc_netif_get_from_netdev,
+    .set = gnrc_netif_set_from_netdev,
     .msg_handler = _netif_msg_handler,
 };
 
+static const netdev_driver_t _ble_netdev_driver = {
+    .send = NULL,
+    .recv = NULL,
+    .init = _netdev_init,
+    .isr  =  NULL,
+    .get  = _netdev_get,
+    .set  = _netdev_set,
+};
+
+static netdev_t _ble_dummy_dev = {
+    .driver = &_ble_netdev_driver,
+};
+
 void gnrc_nordic_ble_6lowpan_init(void)
 {
-    _ble_netif = gnrc_netif_create(_stack, sizeof(_stack), BLE_PRIO,
-                                   "ble", NULL, &_ble_ops);
+    gnrc_netif_create(_stack, sizeof(_stack), BLE_PRIO,
+                      "ble", &_ble_dummy_dev, &_ble_ops);
 }
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/gnrc_netif.c b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/gnrc_netif.c
index 4b2953e625..7068d3b7f0 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/netif/gnrc_netif.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/netif/gnrc_netif.c
@@ -819,6 +819,13 @@ int gnrc_netif_ipv6_get_iid(gnrc_netif_t *netif, eui64_t *eui64)
                 }
                 break;
 #endif
+#ifdef MODULE_NORDIC_SOFTDEVICE_BLE
+            case NETDEV_TYPE_BLE:
+                assert(netif->l2addr_len == sizeof(eui64_t));
+                memcpy(eui64, netif->l2addr, sizeof(eui64_t));
+                eui64->uint8[0] ^= 0x02;
+                return 0;
+#endif
 #if defined(MODULE_CC110X) || defined(MODULE_NRFMIN)
             case NETDEV_TYPE_CC110X:
             case NETDEV_TYPE_NRFMIN:
@@ -1105,6 +1112,7 @@ bool gnrc_netif_is_6ln(const gnrc_netif_t *netif)
     switch (netif->device_type) {
         case NETDEV_TYPE_IEEE802154:
         case NETDEV_TYPE_CC110X:
+        case NETDEV_TYPE_BLE:
         case NETDEV_TYPE_NRFMIN:
             return true;
         default:
@@ -1120,7 +1128,9 @@ static void _update_l2addr_from_dev(gnrc_netif_t *netif)
     netopt_t opt = NETOPT_ADDRESS;
 
     switch (netif->device_type) {
-#if defined(MODULE_NETDEV_IEEE802154) || defined(MODULE_XBEE)
+#if defined(MODULE_NETDEV_IEEE802154) || defined(MODULE_XBEE) \
+    || defined(MODULE_NORDIC_SOFTDEVICE_BLE)
+        case NETDEV_TYPE_BLE:
         case NETDEV_TYPE_IEEE802154: {
                 uint16_t tmp;
 
@@ -1181,6 +1191,14 @@ static void _init_from_device(gnrc_netif_t *netif)
             netif->ipv6.mtu = ETHERNET_DATA_LEN;
 #endif
             break;
+#endif
+#ifdef MODULE_NORDIC_SOFTDEVICE_BLE
+        case NETDEV_TYPE_BLE:
+            netif->ipv6.mtu = IPV6_MIN_MTU;
+#ifdef MODULE_GNRC_SIXLOWPAN_IPHC
+            netif->flags |= GNRC_NETIF_FLAGS_6LO_HC;
+#endif
+            break;
 #endif
         default:
 #ifdef MODULE_GNRC_IPV6
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/sixlowpan/gnrc_sixlowpan.c b/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/sixlowpan/gnrc_sixlowpan.c
index a1f361b953..7b18baca08 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/sixlowpan/gnrc_sixlowpan.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/sixlowpan/gnrc_sixlowpan.c
@@ -257,11 +257,10 @@ static void _send(gnrc_pktsnip_t *pkt)
     DEBUG("6lo: iface->sixlo.max_frag_size = %" PRIu8 " for interface %"
           PRIkernel_pid "\n", iface->sixlo.max_frag_size, hdr->if_pid);
 
-    /* IP should not send anything here if it is not a 6LoWPAN interface,
-     * so we don't need to check for NULL pointers.
-     * Note, that datagram_size cannot be used here, because the header size
+    /* Note, that datagram_size cannot be used here, because the header size
      * might be changed by IPHC. */
-    if (gnrc_pkt_len(pkt2->next) <= iface->sixlo.max_frag_size) {
+    if ((iface->sixlo.max_frag_size == 0) ||
+        (gnrc_pkt_len(pkt2->next) <= iface->sixlo.max_frag_size)) {
         DEBUG("6lo: Send SND command for %p to %" PRIu16 "\n",
               (void *)pkt2, hdr->if_pid);
         if (gnrc_netapi_send(hdr->if_pid, pkt2) < 1) {