diff --git a/pkg/openthread/contrib/netdev/openthread_netdev.c b/pkg/openthread/contrib/netdev/openthread_netdev.c
index 8bb4270ca0..f3a8ef05fe 100644
--- a/pkg/openthread/contrib/netdev/openthread_netdev.c
+++ b/pkg/openthread/contrib/netdev/openthread_netdev.c
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ static void *_openthread_event_loop(void *arg)
 
     event_queue_init(&ev_queue);
 
-    netdev->driver->init(netdev);
     netdev->event_callback = _event_cb;
+    netdev->driver->init(netdev);
 
     netopt_enable_t enable = NETOPT_ENABLE;
     netdev->driver->set(netdev, NETOPT_TX_END_IRQ, &enable, sizeof(enable));