diff --git a/cpu/cc2538/dev/sys-ctrl.c b/cpu/cc2538/dev/sys-ctrl.c
index c2e8777ad..92592b942 100644
--- a/cpu/cc2538/dev/sys-ctrl.c
+++ b/cpu/cc2538/dev/sys-ctrl.c
@@ -50,6 +50,26 @@
 #define SYS_CTRL_OSCS   SYS_CTRL_CLOCK_CTRL_OSC32K
 #endif
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+int
+sys_ctrl_get_reset_cause(void)
+{
+  return (REG(SYS_CTRL_CLOCK_STA) & SYS_CTRL_CLOCK_STA_RST) >>
+         SYS_CTRL_CLOCK_STA_RST_S;
+}
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+const char *
+sys_ctrl_get_reset_cause_str(void)
+{
+  static const char *reset_cause[] = {
+    "POR",
+    "External reset",
+    "WDT",
+    "CLD or software reset"
+  };
+
+  return reset_cause[sys_ctrl_get_reset_cause()];
+}
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 void
 sys_ctrl_init()
 {
diff --git a/cpu/cc2538/dev/sys-ctrl.h b/cpu/cc2538/dev/sys-ctrl.h
index 3fda071fe..22dece434 100644
--- a/cpu/cc2538/dev/sys-ctrl.h
+++ b/cpu/cc2538/dev/sys-ctrl.h
@@ -115,6 +115,11 @@
 #define SYS_CTRL_CLOCK_STA_OSC32K_CALDIS    0x02000000
 #define SYS_CTRL_CLOCK_STA_OSC32K           0x01000000
 #define SYS_CTRL_CLOCK_STA_RST              0x00C00000
+#define SYS_CTRL_CLOCK_STA_RST_S            22
+#define SYS_CTRL_CLOCK_STA_RST_POR          0
+#define SYS_CTRL_CLOCK_STA_RST_EXT          1
+#define SYS_CTRL_CLOCK_STA_RST_WDT          2
+#define SYS_CTRL_CLOCK_STA_RST_CLD_SW       3
 #define SYS_CTRL_CLOCK_STA_SOURCE_CHANGE    0x00100000
 #define SYS_CTRL_CLOCK_STA_XOSC_STB         0x00080000
 #define SYS_CTRL_CLOCK_STA_HSOSC_STB        0x00040000
@@ -302,6 +307,17 @@
 /** \name SysCtrl functions
  * @{
  */
+
+/** \brief Gets the cause of the last reset
+ * \return A \c SYS_CTRL_CLOCK_STA_RST_x reset cause
+ */
+int sys_ctrl_get_reset_cause(void);
+
+/** \brief Gets a string describing the cause of the last reset
+ * \return Last reset cause as a string
+ */
+const char *sys_ctrl_get_reset_cause_str(void);
+
 /** \brief Initialises the System Control Driver. The main purpose of this
  * function is to power up and select clocks and oscillators
  * \note This function depends on ioc_init() having been called beforehand. */