diff --git a/core/contiki-default-conf.h b/core/contiki-default-conf.h
index 2cbe88b43..1628f8a72 100644
--- a/core/contiki-default-conf.h
+++ b/core/contiki-default-conf.h
@@ -78,6 +78,13 @@
 #define NETSTACK_CONF_LLSEC nullsec_driver
 #endif /* NETSTACK_CONF_LLSEC */
 
+/* To avoid unnecessary complexity, we assume the common case of
+   a constant LoWPAN-wide IEEE 802.15.4 security level, which
+   can be specified by defining LLSEC802154_CONF_SECURITY_LEVEL. */
+#ifndef LLSEC802154_CONF_SECURITY_LEVEL
+#define LLSEC802154_CONF_SECURITY_LEVEL 0
+#endif /* LLSEC802154_CONF_SECURITY_LEVEL */
+
 /* NETSTACK_CONF_NETWORK specifies the network layer and can be either
    sicslowpan_driver, for IPv6 networking, or rime_driver, for the
    custom Rime network stack. */
diff --git a/core/net/llsec/llsec802154.h b/core/net/llsec/llsec802154.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dadfce608
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/net/llsec/llsec802154.h
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+/**
+ * \addtogroup llsec
+ * @{
+ */
+
+/**
+ * \defgroup llsec802154
+ * 
+ * Common functionality of 802.15.4-compliant llsec_drivers.
+ * 
+ * @{
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2013, Hasso-Plattner-Institut.
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ *    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ * 3. Neither the name of the Institute nor the names of its contributors
+ *    may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
+ *    without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE INSTITUTE AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND
+ * ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+ * IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+ * ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE INSTITUTE OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+ * FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+ * DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
+ * OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
+ * HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
+ * LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
+ * OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
+ * SUCH DAMAGE.
+ *
+ * This file is part of the Contiki operating system.
+ *
+ */
+
+/**
+ * \file
+ *         Common functionality of 802.15.4-compliant llsec_drivers.
+ * \author
+ *         Konrad Krentz <konrad.krentz@gmail.com>
+ */
+
+#ifndef LLSEC802154_H_
+#define LLSEC802154_H_
+
+#include "net/mac/frame802154.h"
+
+#ifdef LLSEC802154_CONF_SECURITY_LEVEL
+#define LLSEC802154_SECURITY_LEVEL     LLSEC802154_CONF_SECURITY_LEVEL
+#else /* LLSEC802154_CONF_SECURITY_LEVEL */
+#define LLSEC802154_SECURITY_LEVEL     FRAME802154_SECURITY_LEVEL_NONE
+#endif /* LLSEC802154_CONF_SECURITY_LEVEL */
+
+#define LLSEC802154_MIC_LENGTH         ((LLSEC802154_SECURITY_LEVEL & 3) * 4)
+
+#ifdef LLSEC802154_CONF_USES_ENCRYPTION
+#define LLSEC802154_USES_ENCRYPTION    LLSEC802154_CONF_USES_ENCRYPTION
+#else /* LLSEC802154_CONF_USES_ENCRYPTION */
+#define LLSEC802154_USES_ENCRYPTION    (LLSEC802154_SECURITY_LEVEL & (1 << 2))
+#endif /* LLSEC802154_CONF_USES_ENCRYPTION */
+
+#endif /* LLSEC802154_H_ */
+
+/** @} */
+/** @} */
diff --git a/core/net/mac/frame802154.h b/core/net/mac/frame802154.h
index 87358f6d9..ccfbcd4e0 100644
--- a/core/net/mac/frame802154.h
+++ b/core/net/mac/frame802154.h
@@ -96,9 +96,14 @@
 #define FRAME802154_IEEE802154_2003 (0x00)
 #define FRAME802154_IEEE802154_2006 (0x01)
 
-#define FRAME802154_SECURITY_LEVEL_NONE (0)
-#define FRAME802154_SECURITY_LEVEL_128  (3)
-
+#define FRAME802154_SECURITY_LEVEL_NONE        (0)
+#define FRAME802154_SECURITY_LEVEL_MIC_32      (1)
+#define FRAME802154_SECURITY_LEVEL_MIC_64      (2)
+#define FRAME802154_SECURITY_LEVEL_MIC_128     (3)
+#define FRAME802154_SECURITY_LEVEL_ENC         (4)
+#define FRAME802154_SECURITY_LEVEL_ENC_MIC_32  (5)
+#define FRAME802154_SECURITY_LEVEL_ENC_MIC_64  (6)
+#define FRAME802154_SECURITY_LEVEL_ENC_MIC_128 (7)
 
 /**
  *    @brief  The IEEE 802.15.4 frame has a number of constant/fixed fields that