diff --git a/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.dep b/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.dep
index 947ec7407a..e84d04c63e 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.dep
+++ b/cpu/nrf52/Makefile.dep
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@ ifneq (,$(filter nrf802154,$(USEMODULE)))
   FEATURES_REQUIRED += radio_nrf802154
   USEMODULE += luid
   USEMODULE += netdev_ieee802154
+  ifeq (,$(filter netdev_ieee802154_legacy,$(USEMODULE)))
+    USEMODULE += netdev_ieee802154_submac
+  endif
 endif
 
 # The nrf52832 requires gpio IRQ with SPI to work around errata 58
diff --git a/examples/gnrc_networking/Makefile b/examples/gnrc_networking/Makefile
index 139a202658..17b3a4fbc2 100644
--- a/examples/gnrc_networking/Makefile
+++ b/examples/gnrc_networking/Makefile
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ USEMODULE += netstats_l2
 USEMODULE += netstats_ipv6
 USEMODULE += netstats_rpl
 
+# Uncomment this to enable legacy support of netdev for IEEE 802.15.4 radios.
+# USEMODULE += netdev_ieee802154_legacy
+
 # Comment this out to disable code in RIOT that does safety checking
 # which is not needed in a production environment but helps in the
 # development process:
diff --git a/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk b/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk
index 7672cb5189..3fdf6f0d53 100644
--- a/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk
+++ b/makefiles/pseudomodules.inc.mk
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ PSEUDOMODULES += ztimer%
 # ztimer's main module is called "ztimer_core"
 NO_PSEUDOMODULES += ztimer_core
 NO_PSEUDOMODULES += netdev_ieee802154_submac
+NO_PSEUDOMODULES += netdev_ieee802154_legacy
 
 # print ascii representation in function od_hex_dump()
 PSEUDOMODULES += od_string