diff --git a/tests/gnrc_rpl/Makefile b/tests/gnrc_rpl/Makefile
index f36d5a9f8159e..5e90bd90e2a6f 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_rpl/Makefile
+++ b/tests/gnrc_rpl/Makefile
@@ -4,11 +4,14 @@ USEMODULE += auto_init_gnrc_netif
 USEMODULE += auto_init_gnrc_rpl
 USEMODULE += gnrc_ipv6_router_default
 USEMODULE += gnrc_icmpv6_echo
+USEMODULE += gnrc_netif_bus
 USEMODULE += gnrc_rpl
 
 USEMODULE += shell
 USEMODULE += shell_cmds_default
 
+DISABLE_MODULE += test_utils_print_stack_usage
+
 ifeq (native, $(BOARD))
   USEMODULE += socket_zep
   USEMODULE += socket_zep_hello
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_rpl/main.c b/tests/gnrc_rpl/main.c
index 116f93cb8817b..9faec900bf087 100644
--- a/tests/gnrc_rpl/main.c
+++ b/tests/gnrc_rpl/main.c
@@ -20,14 +20,33 @@
 
 #include "shell.h"
 #include "msg.h"
+#include "thread.h"
+#include "net/gnrc/netif.h"
 
 #define MAIN_QUEUE_SIZE     (8)
 static msg_t _main_msg_queue[MAIN_QUEUE_SIZE];
+static char _uplink_mon_stack[2 * THREAD_STACKSIZE_DEFAULT];
+
+static void * _uplink_mon(void *arg)
+{
+    (void)arg;
+
+    if (gnrc_netif_ipv6_wait_for_global_address(NULL, 10 * MS_PER_SEC)) {
+        puts("uplink ready");
+    } else {
+        puts("uplink timeout");
+    }
+
+    return NULL;
+}
 
 int main(void)
 {
     char line_buf[SHELL_DEFAULT_BUFSIZE];
 
+    thread_create(_uplink_mon_stack, sizeof(_uplink_mon_stack), THREAD_PRIORITY_MAIN - 1,
+                  THREAD_CREATE_STACKTEST, _uplink_mon, NULL, "uplink monitor");
+
     msg_init_queue(_main_msg_queue, MAIN_QUEUE_SIZE);
     shell_run(NULL, line_buf, SHELL_DEFAULT_BUFSIZE);
 
diff --git a/tests/gnrc_rpl/tests/01-run.py b/tests/gnrc_rpl/tests/01-run.py
index 9610f7ed84365..e47c318f4d730 100755
--- a/tests/gnrc_rpl/tests/01-run.py
+++ b/tests/gnrc_rpl/tests/01-run.py
@@ -90,13 +90,14 @@ def test_linear_topology(factory, zep_dispatch):
     D = nodes[3]
 
     # add prefix to root node
-    A.cmd("nib prefix add 5 2001:db8::/32")
-    A.cmd("ifconfig 5 add 2001:db8::1/32")
+    A.cmd("nib prefix add 5 2001:db8::/64")
+    A.cmd("ifconfig 5 add 2001:db8::1/64")
     A.cmd("rpl root 0 2001:db8::1")
     root_addr = global_addr(A.ifconfig_list())[1]
 
     # wait for the creation of the DODAG
-    time.sleep(10)
+    D.riotctrl.term.expect("uplink ready")
+    time.sleep(5)
 
     # ping root node from last node
     parser = GNRCICMPv6EchoParser()
@@ -137,13 +138,14 @@ def test_alternative_route(factory, zep_dispatch):
     D = nodes[3]
 
     # add prefix to root node
-    A.cmd("nib prefix add 5 2001:db8::/32")
-    A.cmd("ifconfig 5 add 2001:db8::1/32")
+    A.cmd("nib prefix add 5 2001:db8::/64")
+    A.cmd("ifconfig 5 add 2001:db8::1/64")
     A.cmd("rpl root 0 2001:db8::1")
     root_addr = global_addr(A.ifconfig_list())[1]
 
     # wait for the creation of the DODAG
-    time.sleep(10)
+    D.riotctrl.term.expect("uplink ready")
+    time.sleep(5)
 
     # ping root node from last node
     parser = GNRCICMPv6EchoParser()