diff --git a/core/net/rpl/rpl-timers.c b/core/net/rpl/rpl-timers.c
index d2eebea5e..fc584e0bd 100644
--- a/core/net/rpl/rpl-timers.c
+++ b/core/net/rpl/rpl-timers.c
@@ -168,7 +168,9 @@ handle_dio_timer(void *ptr)
 void
 rpl_reset_periodic_timer(void)
 {
-  next_dis = RPL_DIS_INTERVAL - RPL_DIS_START_DELAY;
+  next_dis = RPL_DIS_INTERVAL / 2 +
+    ((uint32_t)RPL_DIS_INTERVAL * (uint32_t)random_rand()) / RANDOM_RAND_MAX -
+    RPL_DIS_START_DELAY;
   ctimer_set(&periodic_timer, CLOCK_SECOND, handle_periodic_timer, NULL);
 }
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/