diff --git a/core/net/mac/frame802154.h b/core/net/mac/frame802154.h
index 1e97a41df..fcd0ae54a 100644
--- a/core/net/mac/frame802154.h
+++ b/core/net/mac/frame802154.h
@@ -169,12 +169,15 @@ 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 */