diff --git a/net/ieee802154/6lowpan.h b/net/ieee802154/6lowpan.h
index 8c2251fb0a3f..bba5f8336317 100644
--- a/net/ieee802154/6lowpan.h
+++ b/net/ieee802154/6lowpan.h
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
 	(memcmp(addr1, addr2, length >> 3) == 0)
 
 /* local link, i.e. FE80::/10 */
-#define is_addr_link_local(a) (((a)->s6_addr16[0]) == 0x80FE)
+#define is_addr_link_local(a) (((a)->s6_addr16[0]) == htons(0xFE80))
 
 /*
  * check whether we can compress the IID to 16 bits,