diff --git a/platform/msb430/dev/cc1020.c b/platform/msb430/dev/cc1020.c
index e8b5a8f43..d7049cd7d 100644
--- a/platform/msb430/dev/cc1020.c
+++ b/platform/msb430/dev/cc1020.c
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ cc1020_sending(void)
 }
 
 int
-cc1020_send(const void *buf, unsigned short len)
+cc1020_send(const void *buf, unsigned len)
 {
   if (cc1020_state == CC1020_OFF)
     return -2;
@@ -235,9 +235,9 @@ cc1020_send(const void *buf, unsigned short len)
 }
 
 int
-cc1020_read(void *buf, unsigned short size)
+cc1020_read(void *buf, unsigned size)
 {
-  unsigned short len;
+  unsigned len;
 
   if (cc1020_rxlen <= HDRSIZE)
     return 0;
@@ -296,6 +296,14 @@ cc1020_get_rssi(void)
   return rssi;
 }
 
+int
+cc1020_carrier_sense(void)
+{
+  int carrier_sense;
+
+  return !!(cc1020_read_reg(CC1020_STATUS) & CARRIER_SENSE);
+}
+
 interrupt(UART0RX_VECTOR) cc1020_rxhandler(void)
 {
   static signed char syncbs;
diff --git a/platform/msb430/dev/cc1020.h b/platform/msb430/dev/cc1020.h
index c33a41a37..98bc75756 100644
--- a/platform/msb430/dev/cc1020.h
+++ b/platform/msb430/dev/cc1020.h
@@ -58,10 +58,12 @@ void cc1020_init(const uint8_t* config);
 void cc1020_set_rx(void);
 void cc1020_set_tx(void);
 void cc1020_set_power(uint8_t pa_power);
+int cc1020_carrier_sense(void);
 uint8_t cc1020_get_rssi(void);
+int cc1020_sending(void);
 
-int cc1020_send(const void *buf, unsigned short size);
-int cc1020_read(void *buf, unsigned short size);
+int cc1020_send(const void *buf, unsigned size);
+int cc1020_read(void *buf, unsigned size);
 void cc1020_set_receiver(void (*recv)(const struct radio_driver *));
 int cc1020_on(void);
 int cc1020_off(void);