diff --git a/core/net/rpl/rpl-conf.h b/core/net/rpl/rpl-conf.h
index ad3cb1861..0512591f5 100644
--- a/core/net/rpl/rpl-conf.h
+++ b/core/net/rpl/rpl-conf.h
@@ -186,4 +186,13 @@
 #define RPL_DEFAULT_LIFETIME            RPL_CONF_DEFAULT_LIFETIME
 #endif
 
+/*
+ * DAG preference field
+ */
+#ifdef RPL_CONF_PREFERENCE
+#define RPL_PREFERENCE              RPL_CONF_PREFERENCE
+#else
+#define RPL_PREFERENCE              0
+#endif
+
 #endif /* RPL_CONF_H */
diff --git a/core/net/rpl/rpl-dag.c b/core/net/rpl/rpl-dag.c
index 08178d5ad..dff72e832 100644
--- a/core/net/rpl/rpl-dag.c
+++ b/core/net/rpl/rpl-dag.c
@@ -270,6 +270,7 @@ rpl_set_root(uint8_t instance_id, uip_ipaddr_t *dag_id)
   dag->version = version;
   dag->joined = 1;
   dag->grounded = RPL_GROUNDED;
+  dag->preference = RPL_PREFERENCE;
   instance->mop = RPL_MOP_DEFAULT;
   instance->of = &RPL_OF;
   rpl_set_preferred_parent(dag, NULL);