diff --git a/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/device.rs b/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/device.rs
index 7d6c009241..dce17bc7af 100644
--- a/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/device.rs
+++ b/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/device.rs
@@ -48,6 +48,17 @@ pub trait MacDevice<'a> {
     /// Returns if the MAC device is currently on.
     fn is_on(&self) -> bool;
 
+    /// Start the radio.
+    ///
+    /// This serves as a passthrough to the underlying radio's `start` method.
+    ///
+    /// ## Return
+    ///
+    /// `Ok(())` on success. On `Err()`, valid errors are:
+    ///
+    /// - `ErrorCode::FAIL`: Internal error occurred.
+    fn start(&self) -> Result<(), ErrorCode>;
+
     /// Prepares a mutable buffer slice as an 802.15.4 frame by writing the appropriate
     /// header bytes into the buffer. This needs to be done before adding the
     /// payload because the length of the header is not fixed.
diff --git a/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/driver.rs b/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/driver.rs
index a0bbf0db3d..f29acef2cf 100644
--- a/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/driver.rs
+++ b/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/driver.rs
@@ -668,6 +668,7 @@ impl<'a, M: device::MacDevice<'a>> SyscallDriver for RadioDriver<'a, M> {
     ///        parameters to encrypt, form headers, and transmit the frame.
     /// - `28`: Set long address.
     /// - `29`: Get the long MAC address.
+    /// - `30`: Turn the radio on.
     fn command(
         &self,
         command_number: usize,
@@ -967,6 +968,7 @@ impl<'a, M: device::MacDevice<'a>> SyscallDriver for RadioDriver<'a, M> {
                 let addr = u64::from_be_bytes(self.mac.get_address_long());
                 CommandReturn::success_u64(addr)
             }
+            30 => self.mac.start().into(),
             _ => CommandReturn::failure(ErrorCode::NOSUPPORT),
         }
     }
diff --git a/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/framer.rs b/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/framer.rs
index e6bf6580c8..d62bde61ec 100644
--- a/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/framer.rs
+++ b/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/framer.rs
@@ -774,6 +774,10 @@ impl<'a, M: Mac<'a>, A: AES128CCM<'a>> MacDevice<'a> for Framer<'a, M, A> {
         self.mac.is_on()
     }
 
+    fn start(&self) -> Result<(), ErrorCode> {
+        self.mac.start()
+    }
+
     fn prepare_data_frame(
         &self,
         buf: &'static mut [u8],
diff --git a/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/mac.rs b/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/mac.rs
index a4c0dc95c3..6b20cb48ed 100644
--- a/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/mac.rs
+++ b/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/mac.rs
@@ -57,6 +57,17 @@ pub trait Mac<'a> {
     /// Indicates whether or not the MAC protocol is active and can send frames
     fn is_on(&self) -> bool;
 
+    /// Start the radio.
+    ///
+    /// This serves as a passthrough to the underlying radio's `start` method.
+    ///
+    /// ## Return
+    ///
+    /// `Ok(())` on success. On `Err()`, valid errors are:
+    ///
+    /// - `ErrorCode::FAIL`: Internal error occurred.
+    fn start(&self) -> Result<(), ErrorCode>;
+
     /// Transmits complete MAC frames, which must be prepared by an ieee802154::device::MacDevice
     /// before being passed to the Mac layer. Returns the frame buffer in case of an error.
     fn transmit(
@@ -98,6 +109,10 @@ impl<'a, R: radio::Radio<'a>> Mac<'a> for AwakeMac<'a, R> {
         self.radio.is_on()
     }
 
+    fn start(&self) -> Result<(), ErrorCode> {
+        self.radio.start()
+    }
+
     fn set_config_client(&self, client: &'a dyn radio::ConfigClient) {
         self.radio.set_config_client(client)
     }
diff --git a/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/virtual_mac.rs b/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/virtual_mac.rs
index e224efed60..823226b7f7 100644
--- a/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/virtual_mac.rs
+++ b/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/virtual_mac.rs
@@ -288,6 +288,10 @@ impl<'a, M: device::MacDevice<'a>> device::MacDevice<'a> for MacUser<'a, M> {
         self.mux.mac.is_on()
     }
 
+    fn start(&self) -> Result<(), ErrorCode> {
+        self.mux.mac.start()
+    }
+
     fn prepare_data_frame(
         &self,
         buf: &'static mut [u8],
diff --git a/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/xmac.rs b/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/xmac.rs
index eb2cf0504b..d017f400ce 100644
--- a/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/xmac.rs
+++ b/capsules/extra/src/ieee802154/xmac.rs
@@ -369,6 +369,11 @@ impl<'a, R: radio::Radio<'a>, A: Alarm<'a>> Mac<'a> for XMac<'a, R, A> {
         self.radio.is_on()
     }
 
+    fn start(&self) -> Result<(), ErrorCode> {
+        self.state.set(XMacState::STARTUP);
+        self.radio.start()
+    }
+
     fn set_config_client(&self, client: &'a dyn radio::ConfigClient) {
         self.radio.set_config_client(client)
     }