diff --git a/sys/include/net/gnrc/ipv6/nib/conf.h b/sys/include/net/gnrc/ipv6/nib/conf.h
index d715b18c88b4..4ab6ba820a74 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/gnrc/ipv6/nib/conf.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/gnrc/ipv6/nib/conf.h
@@ -130,18 +130,11 @@ extern "C" {
 #endif
 
 /**
- * @brief    (de-)activate router advertising at interface start-up
+ * @brief    activate router advertising at interface start-up
  */
 #ifndef CONFIG_GNRC_IPV6_NIB_ADV_ROUTER
-#if CONFIG_GNRC_IPV6_NIB_ROUTER && \
-    (!CONFIG_GNRC_IPV6_NIB_6LR || CONFIG_GNRC_IPV6_NIB_6LBR) && \
-    !(IS_USED(MODULE_DHCPV6_CLIENT_IA_PD) || IS_USED(MODULE_GNRC_UHCPC) || \
-      IS_USED(MODULE_GNRC_IPV6_AUTO_SUBNETS) || IS_USED(MODULE_GNRC_IPV6_STATIC_ADDR))
-#define CONFIG_GNRC_IPV6_NIB_ADV_ROUTER               1
-#else
 #define CONFIG_GNRC_IPV6_NIB_ADV_ROUTER               0
 #endif
-#endif
 
 /**
  * @brief   Include a Route Information Option for subnets
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl.c b/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl.c
index f2b0f3749d58..383637b295b3 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/routing/rpl/gnrc_rpl.c
@@ -122,10 +122,15 @@ kernel_pid_t gnrc_rpl_init(kernel_pid_t if_pid)
     }
 
     /* register all_RPL_nodes multicast address */
-    gnrc_netif_ipv6_group_join_internal(gnrc_netif_get_by_pid(if_pid),
-                                        &ipv6_addr_all_rpl_nodes);
+    gnrc_netif_t *netif = gnrc_netif_get_by_pid(if_pid);
+    gnrc_netif_ipv6_group_join_internal(netif, &ipv6_addr_all_rpl_nodes);
 
+    /* send DODAG Information Solicitation */
     gnrc_rpl_send_DIS(NULL, (ipv6_addr_t *) &ipv6_addr_all_rpl_nodes, NULL, 0);
+
+    /* RPL enables routing, start advertising ourself as a router */
+    gnrc_ipv6_nib_change_rtr_adv_iface(netif, true);
+
     return gnrc_rpl_pid;
 }