diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/pktbuf/gnrc_pktbuf.c b/sys/net/gnrc/pktbuf/gnrc_pktbuf.c
index 96090f8b5a078..23d2f9cb1a4f6 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/pktbuf/gnrc_pktbuf.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/pktbuf/gnrc_pktbuf.c
@@ -93,6 +93,14 @@ void gnrc_pktbuf_release_error(gnrc_pktsnip_t *pkt, uint32_t err)
         assert(gnrc_pktbuf_contains(pkt));
         assert(pkt->users > 0);
         tmp = pkt->next;
+
+        /* if the memory was freed, memory has been overwritten by CANARY */
+        if (CONFIG_GNRC_PKTBUF_CHECK_USE_AFTER_FREE &&
+            pkt->users == GNRC_PKTBUF_CANARY) {
+            puts("gnrc_pktbuf: double free detected\n");
+            DEBUG_BREAKPOINT(3);
+        }
+
         if (pkt->users == 1) {
             pkt->users = 0; /* not necessary but to be on the safe side */
             if (!IS_USED(MODULE_GNRC_TX_SYNC)
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/pktbuf_static/gnrc_pktbuf_static.c b/sys/net/gnrc/pktbuf_static/gnrc_pktbuf_static.c
index 33ede94b4a9cc..d74ae5b91d6bf 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/pktbuf_static/gnrc_pktbuf_static.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/pktbuf_static/gnrc_pktbuf_static.c
@@ -218,6 +218,13 @@ gnrc_pktsnip_t *gnrc_pktbuf_start_write(gnrc_pktsnip_t *pkt)
         mutex_unlock(&gnrc_pktbuf_mutex);
         return NULL;
     }
+
+    if (CONFIG_GNRC_PKTBUF_CHECK_USE_AFTER_FREE &&
+        pkt->users == GNRC_PKTBUF_CANARY) {
+        puts("gnrc_pktbuf: use after free detected\n");
+        DEBUG_BREAKPOINT(3);
+    }
+
     if (pkt->users > 1) {
         gnrc_pktsnip_t *new;
         new = _create_snip(pkt->next, pkt->data, pkt->size, pkt->type);