diff --git a/core/net/mac/frame802154.c b/core/net/mac/frame802154.c
index 5e216260b..3cd85d20b 100644
--- a/core/net/mac/frame802154.c
+++ b/core/net/mac/frame802154.c
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@
 #include "sys/cc.h"
 #include "net/mac/frame802154.h"
 #include "net/llsec/llsec802154.h"
+#include "net/linkaddr.h"
 #include <string.h>
 
 /**
diff --git a/core/net/mac/frame802154.h b/core/net/mac/frame802154.h
index e6cb80c8b..4b3a81049 100644
--- a/core/net/mac/frame802154.h
+++ b/core/net/mac/frame802154.h
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@
 #define FRAME_802154_H
 
 #include "contiki-conf.h"
-#include "net/linkaddr.h"
 
 #ifdef IEEE802154_CONF_PANID
 #define IEEE802154_PANID           IEEE802154_CONF_PANID
@@ -174,12 +173,15 @@ typedef struct {
  *  specification for details.
  */
 typedef struct {
+  /* The fields dest_addr and src_addr must come first to ensure they are aligned to the
+   * CPU word size. Needed as they are accessed directly as linkaddr_t*. Note we cannot use
+   * the type linkaddr_t directly here, as we always need 8 bytes, not LINKADDR_SIZE bytes. */
+  uint8_t dest_addr[8];           /**< Destination address */
+  uint8_t src_addr[8];            /**< Source address */
   frame802154_fcf_t fcf;          /**< Frame control field  */
   uint8_t seq;                    /**< Sequence number */
   uint16_t dest_pid;              /**< Destination PAN ID */
-  uint8_t dest_addr[8];           /**< Destination address */
   uint16_t src_pid;               /**< Source PAN ID */
-  uint8_t src_addr[8];            /**< Source address */
   frame802154_aux_hdr_t aux_hdr;  /**< Aux security header */
   uint8_t *payload;               /**< Pointer to 802.15.4 payload */
   int payload_len;                /**< Length of payload field */
diff --git a/platform/micaz/init-net.c b/platform/micaz/init-net.c
index c0366c833..1ccf50b57 100644
--- a/platform/micaz/init-net.c
+++ b/platform/micaz/init-net.c
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 #include "dev/leds.h"
 #include "net/netstack.h"
 #include "net/mac/frame802154.h"
+#include "net/linkaddr.h"
 
 #include "dev/ds2401.h"
 #include "sys/node-id.h"