diff --git a/core/net/llsec/anti-replay.c b/core/net/llsec/anti-replay.c
index 45168ef57..c56d90e0b 100644
--- a/core/net/llsec/anti-replay.c
+++ b/core/net/llsec/anti-replay.c
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ anti_replay_was_replayed(struct anti_replay_info *info)
   
   received_counter = anti_replay_get_counter();
   
-  if(linkaddr_cmp(packetbuf_addr(PACKETBUF_ADDR_RECEIVER), &linkaddr_null)) {
+  if(packetbuf_holds_broadcast()) {
     /* broadcast */
     if(received_counter <= info->last_broadcast_counter) {
       return 1;
diff --git a/core/net/mac/contikimac/contikimac.c b/core/net/mac/contikimac/contikimac.c
index e46f51bff..bc3be6566 100644
--- a/core/net/mac/contikimac/contikimac.c
+++ b/core/net/mac/contikimac/contikimac.c
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ send_packet(mac_callback_t mac_callback, void *mac_callback_ptr,
   /* If NETSTACK_CONF_BRIDGE_MODE is set, assume PACKETBUF_ADDR_SENDER is already set. */
   packetbuf_set_addr(PACKETBUF_ADDR_SENDER, &linkaddr_node_addr);
 #endif
-  if(linkaddr_cmp(packetbuf_addr(PACKETBUF_ADDR_RECEIVER), &linkaddr_null)) {
+  if(packetbuf_holds_broadcast()) {
     is_broadcast = 1;
     PRINTDEBUG("contikimac: send broadcast\n");
 
@@ -876,8 +876,7 @@ input_packet(void)
        packetbuf_totlen() > 0 &&
        (linkaddr_cmp(packetbuf_addr(PACKETBUF_ADDR_RECEIVER),
                      &linkaddr_node_addr) ||
-        linkaddr_cmp(packetbuf_addr(PACKETBUF_ADDR_RECEIVER),
-                     &linkaddr_null))) {
+        packetbuf_holds_broadcast())) {
       /* This is a regular packet that is destined to us or to the
          broadcast address. */
 
diff --git a/core/net/mac/cxmac/cxmac.c b/core/net/mac/cxmac/cxmac.c
index 7bb55f227..31032c372 100644
--- a/core/net/mac/cxmac/cxmac.c
+++ b/core/net/mac/cxmac/cxmac.c
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ send_packet(void)
   /* If NETSTACK_CONF_BRIDGE_MODE is set, assume PACKETBUF_ADDR_SENDER is already set. */
   packetbuf_set_addr(PACKETBUF_ADDR_SENDER, &linkaddr_node_addr);
 #endif
-  if(linkaddr_cmp(packetbuf_addr(PACKETBUF_ADDR_RECEIVER), &linkaddr_null)) {
+  if(packetbuf_holds_broadcast()) {
     is_broadcast = 1;
     PRINTDEBUG("cxmac: send broadcast\n");
   } else {
diff --git a/core/net/mac/framer-802154.c b/core/net/mac/framer-802154.c
index f1da770a7..03b091feb 100644
--- a/core/net/mac/framer-802154.c
+++ b/core/net/mac/framer-802154.c
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ create_frame(int type, int do_create)
   /* Build the FCF. */
   params.fcf.frame_type = packetbuf_attr(PACKETBUF_ATTR_FRAME_TYPE);
   params.fcf.frame_pending = packetbuf_attr(PACKETBUF_ATTR_PENDING);
-  if(linkaddr_cmp(packetbuf_addr(PACKETBUF_ADDR_RECEIVER), &linkaddr_null)) {
+  if(packetbuf_holds_broadcast()) {
     params.fcf.ack_required = 0;
   } else {
     params.fcf.ack_required = packetbuf_attr(PACKETBUF_ATTR_MAC_ACK);
@@ -159,11 +159,7 @@ create_frame(int type, int do_create)
   }
   params.dest_pid = mac_dst_pan_id;
 
-  /*
-   *  If the output address is NULL in the Rime buf, then it is broadcast
-   *  on the 802.15.4 network.
-   */
-  if(linkaddr_cmp(packetbuf_addr(PACKETBUF_ADDR_RECEIVER), &linkaddr_null)) {
+  if(packetbuf_holds_broadcast()) {
     /* Broadcast requires short address mode. */
     params.fcf.dest_addr_mode = FRAME802154_SHORTADDRMODE;
     params.dest_addr[0] = 0xFF;
diff --git a/core/net/mac/nullrdc.c b/core/net/mac/nullrdc.c
index 7f92495e8..3403b764e 100644
--- a/core/net/mac/nullrdc.c
+++ b/core/net/mac/nullrdc.c
@@ -132,8 +132,7 @@ send_one_packet(mac_callback_t sent, void *ptr)
 
     NETSTACK_RADIO.prepare(packetbuf_hdrptr(), packetbuf_totlen());
 
-    is_broadcast = linkaddr_cmp(packetbuf_addr(PACKETBUF_ADDR_RECEIVER),
-                                &linkaddr_null);
+    is_broadcast = packetbuf_holds_broadcast();
 
     if(NETSTACK_RADIO.receiving_packet() ||
        (!is_broadcast && NETSTACK_RADIO.pending_packet())) {
@@ -282,8 +281,7 @@ packet_input(void)
 #if NULLRDC_ADDRESS_FILTER
   } else if(!linkaddr_cmp(packetbuf_addr(PACKETBUF_ADDR_RECEIVER),
                                          &linkaddr_node_addr) &&
-            !linkaddr_cmp(packetbuf_addr(PACKETBUF_ADDR_RECEIVER),
-                          &linkaddr_null)) {
+            !packetbuf_holds_broadcast()) {
     PRINTF("nullrdc: not for us\n");
 #endif /* NULLRDC_ADDRESS_FILTER */
   } else {
diff --git a/core/net/mac/sicslowmac/sicslowmac.c b/core/net/mac/sicslowmac/sicslowmac.c
index 56db88ff5..9d88a6b78 100644
--- a/core/net/mac/sicslowmac/sicslowmac.c
+++ b/core/net/mac/sicslowmac/sicslowmac.c
@@ -123,11 +123,7 @@ send_packet(mac_callback_t sent, void *ptr)
   params.fcf.src_addr_mode = FRAME802154_LONGADDRMODE;
   params.dest_pid = mac_dst_pan_id;
 
-  /*
-   *  If the output address is NULL in the Rime buf, then it is broadcast
-   *  on the 802.15.4 network.
-   */
-  if(linkaddr_cmp(packetbuf_addr(PACKETBUF_ADDR_RECEIVER), &linkaddr_null)) {
+  if(packetbuf_holds_broadcast()) {
     /* Broadcast requires short address mode. */
     params.fcf.dest_addr_mode = FRAME802154_SHORTADDRMODE;
     params.dest_addr[0] = 0xFF;
diff --git a/core/net/packetbuf.c b/core/net/packetbuf.c
index e67c8cf12..43994f61e 100644
--- a/core/net/packetbuf.c
+++ b/core/net/packetbuf.c
@@ -320,4 +320,11 @@ packetbuf_addr(uint8_t type)
 }
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 #endif /* PACKETBUF_CONF_ATTRS_INLINE */
+int
+packetbuf_holds_broadcast(void)
+{
+  return linkaddr_cmp(&packetbuf_addrs[PACKETBUF_ADDR_RECEIVER - PACKETBUF_ADDR_FIRST].addr, &linkaddr_null);
+}
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
 /** @} */
diff --git a/core/net/packetbuf.h b/core/net/packetbuf.h
index 2bfffd2dd..86e44bb16 100644
--- a/core/net/packetbuf.h
+++ b/core/net/packetbuf.h
@@ -453,6 +453,12 @@ int               packetbuf_set_addr(uint8_t type, const linkaddr_t *addr);
 const linkaddr_t *packetbuf_addr(uint8_t type);
 #endif /* PACKETBUF_CONF_ATTRS_INLINE */
 
+/**
+ * \brief      Checks whether the current packet is a broadcast.
+ * \retval 0   iff current packet is not a broadcast
+ */
+int               packetbuf_holds_broadcast(void);
+
 void              packetbuf_attr_clear(void);
 
 void              packetbuf_attr_copyto(struct packetbuf_attr *attrs,
diff --git a/cpu/avr/radio/mac/sicslowmac.c b/cpu/avr/radio/mac/sicslowmac.c
index 0d21d997e..9a176277a 100644
--- a/cpu/avr/radio/mac/sicslowmac.c
+++ b/cpu/avr/radio/mac/sicslowmac.c
@@ -426,11 +426,7 @@ sicslowmac_dataRequest(void)
   params.fcf.srcAddrMode = LONGADDRMODE;
   params.dest_pid = ieee15_4ManagerAddress.get_dst_panid();
 
-  /*
-   *  If the output address is NULL in the Rime buf, then it is broadcast
-   *  on the 802.15.4 network.
-   */
-  if(linkaddr_cmp(packetbuf_addr(PACKETBUF_ADDR_RECEIVER), &linkaddr_null) ) {
+  if(packetbuf_holds_broadcast()) {
     /* Broadcast requires short address mode. */
     params.fcf.destAddrMode = SHORTADDRMODE;
     params.dest_pid = BROADCASTPANDID;
diff --git a/platform/avr-ravenusb/sicslow_ethernet.c b/platform/avr-ravenusb/sicslow_ethernet.c
index 9acfcd1e8..380adb53b 100644
--- a/platform/avr-ravenusb/sicslow_ethernet.c
+++ b/platform/avr-ravenusb/sicslow_ethernet.c
@@ -481,11 +481,8 @@ void mac_LowpanToEthernet(void)
   //Setup generic ethernet stuff
   ETHBUF(uip_buf)->type = uip_htons(UIP_ETHTYPE_IPV6);
 
-  //Check for broadcast message
-  
 #if RF230BB
-  if(linkaddr_cmp(packetbuf_addr(PACKETBUF_ADDR_RECEIVER), &linkaddr_null)) {
-//  if(linkaddr_cmp((const linkaddr_t *)destAddr, &linkaddr_null)) {
+  if(packetbuf_holds_broadcast()) {
 #else
   if(  ( parsed_frame->fcf->destAddrMode == SHORTADDRMODE) &&
        ( parsed_frame->dest_addr->addr16 == 0xffff) ) {
@@ -977,7 +974,7 @@ mac_log_802_15_4_tx(const uint8_t* buffer, size_t total_len) {
     ETHBUF(raw_buf)->type = uip_htons(0x809A);  //UIP_ETHTYPE_802154 0x809A
  
   /* Check for broadcast message */
-    if(linkaddr_cmp(packetbuf_addr(PACKETBUF_ADDR_RECEIVER), &linkaddr_null)) {
+    if(packetbuf_holds_broadcast()) {
       ETHBUF(raw_buf)->dest.addr[0] = 0x33;
       ETHBUF(raw_buf)->dest.addr[1] = 0x33;
       ETHBUF(raw_buf)->dest.addr[2] = 0x00;
@@ -1018,7 +1015,7 @@ mac_log_802_15_4_rx(const uint8_t* buf, size_t len) {
     ETHBUF(raw_buf)->type = uip_htons(0x809A);  //UIP_ETHTYPE_802154 0x809A
   
   /* Check for broadcast message */
-    if(linkaddr_cmp(packetbuf_addr(PACKETBUF_ADDR_RECEIVER), &linkaddr_null)) {
+    if(packetbuf_holds_broadcast()) {
       ETHBUF(raw_buf)->dest.addr[0] = 0x33;
       ETHBUF(raw_buf)->dest.addr[1] = 0x33;
       ETHBUF(raw_buf)->dest.addr[2] = 0x00;
diff --git a/tools/sky/uip6-bridge/sicslow_ethernet.c b/tools/sky/uip6-bridge/sicslow_ethernet.c
index 29967d1c0..a74415020 100644
--- a/tools/sky/uip6-bridge/sicslow_ethernet.c
+++ b/tools/sky/uip6-bridge/sicslow_ethernet.c
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ void mac_LowpanToEthernet(void)
   ETHBUF(uip_buf)->type = uip_htons(UIP_ETHTYPE_IPV6);
 
   //Check for broadcast message
-  if(linkaddr_cmp(packetbuf_addr(PACKETBUF_ADDR_RECEIVER), &linkaddr_null)) {
+  if(packetbuf_holds_broadcast()) {
 /*   if(  ( parsed_frame->fcf->destAddrMode == SHORTADDRMODE) && */
 /*        ( parsed_frame->dest_addr->addr16 == 0xffff) ) { */
     ETHBUF(uip_buf)->dest.addr[0] = 0x33;
diff --git a/tools/stm32w/uip6_bridge/sicslow_ethernet.c b/tools/stm32w/uip6_bridge/sicslow_ethernet.c
index 9bd68d0ad..440ed9504 100644
--- a/tools/stm32w/uip6_bridge/sicslow_ethernet.c
+++ b/tools/stm32w/uip6_bridge/sicslow_ethernet.c
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ void mac_LowpanToEthernet(void)
   ETHBUF(uip_buf)->type = htons(UIP_ETHTYPE_IPV6);
 
   //Check for broadcast message
-  if(linkaddr_cmp(packetbuf_addr(PACKETBUF_ADDR_RECEIVER), &linkaddr_null)) {
+  if(packetbuf_holds_broadcast()) {
 /*   if(  ( parsed_frame->fcf->destAddrMode == SHORTADDRMODE) && */
 /*        ( parsed_frame->dest_addr->addr16 == 0xffff) ) { */
     ETHBUF(uip_buf)->dest.addr[0] = 0x33;