diff --git a/include/net/6lowpan.h b/include/net/6lowpan.h
index 04b877c5baff..da84cf920b78 100644
--- a/include/net/6lowpan.h
+++ b/include/net/6lowpan.h
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@
 #include <net/ipv6.h>
 #include <net/net_namespace.h>
 
+/* special link-layer handling */
+#include <net/mac802154.h>
+
 #define EUI64_ADDR_LEN		8
 
 #define LOWPAN_NHC_MAX_ID_LEN	1
diff --git a/net/6lowpan/iphc.c b/net/6lowpan/iphc.c
index dff15911bd04..8501dd532fe1 100644
--- a/net/6lowpan/iphc.c
+++ b/net/6lowpan/iphc.c
@@ -53,9 +53,6 @@
 #include <net/6lowpan.h>
 #include <net/ipv6.h>
 
-/* special link-layer handling */
-#include <net/mac802154.h>
-
 #include "6lowpan_i.h"
 #include "nhc.h"