diff --git a/core/net/rpl/rpl-conf.h b/core/net/rpl/rpl-conf.h
index a2c0e6dd2..69199f9ac 100644
--- a/core/net/rpl/rpl-conf.h
+++ b/core/net/rpl/rpl-conf.h
@@ -105,6 +105,22 @@
 #define RPL_MAX_DAG_PER_INSTANCE     2
 #endif /* RPL_CONF_MAX_DAG_PER_INSTANCE */
 
+/*
+ * RPL Default route lifetime
+ * The RPL route lifetime is used for the downward routes and for the default
+ * route. In a high density network with DIO suppression activated it may happen
+ * that a node will never send a DIO once the DIO interval becomes high as it
+ * has heard DIO from many neighbors already. As the default route to the
+ * preferred parent has a lifetime reset by receiving DIO from the parent, it
+ * means that the default route can be destroyed after a while. Setting the
+ * default route with infinite lifetime secures the upstream route.
+ */
+#ifdef RPL_CONF_DEFAULT_ROUTE_INFINITE_LIFETIME
+#define RPL_DEFAULT_ROUTE_INFINITE_LIFETIME                    RPL_CONF_DEFAULT_ROUTE_INFINITE_LIFETIME
+#else
+#define RPL_DEFAULT_ROUTE_INFINITE_LIFETIME                    0
+#endif /* RPL_CONF_DEFAULT_ROUTE_INFINITE_LIFETIME */
+
 /*
  * 
  */
diff --git a/core/net/rpl/rpl-dag.c b/core/net/rpl/rpl-dag.c
index 8250a9e84..e88107c32 100644
--- a/core/net/rpl/rpl-dag.c
+++ b/core/net/rpl/rpl-dag.c
@@ -481,8 +481,7 @@ rpl_set_default_route(rpl_instance_t *instance, uip_ipaddr_t *from)
     PRINT6ADDR(from);
     PRINTF("\n");
     instance->def_route = uip_ds6_defrt_add(from,
-        RPL_LIFETIME(instance,
-            instance->default_lifetime));
+        RPL_DEFAULT_ROUTE_INFINITE_LIFETIME ? 0 : RPL_LIFETIME(instance, instance->default_lifetime));
     if(instance->def_route == NULL) {
       return 0;
     }
@@ -1398,7 +1397,7 @@ rpl_process_dio(uip_ipaddr_t *from, rpl_dio_t *dio)
     }
     /* We received a new DIO from our preferred parent.
      * Call uip_ds6_defrt_add to set a fresh value for the lifetime counter */
-    uip_ds6_defrt_add(from, RPL_LIFETIME(instance, instance->default_lifetime));
+    uip_ds6_defrt_add(from, RPL_DEFAULT_ROUTE_INFINITE_LIFETIME ? 0 : RPL_LIFETIME(instance, instance->default_lifetime));
   }
   p->dtsn = dio->dtsn;
 }