diff --git a/sys/include/net/nanocoap.h b/sys/include/net/nanocoap.h
index 4ae8107736e3..9d1f27b6b368 100644
--- a/sys/include/net/nanocoap.h
+++ b/sys/include/net/nanocoap.h
@@ -2077,29 +2077,56 @@ ssize_t coap_build_hdr(coap_hdr_t *hdr, unsigned type, const void *token,
  * will create the reply packet header based on parameters from the request
  * (e.g., id, token).
  *
- * Passing a non-zero @p payload_len will ensure the payload fits into the
- * buffer along with the header. For this validation, payload_len must include
- * any options, the payload marker, as well as the payload proper.
- *
- * @param[in]   pkt         packet to reply to
- * @param[in]   code        reply code (e.g., COAP_CODE_204)
- * @param[out]  rbuf        buffer to write reply to
- * @param[in]   rlen        size of @p rbuf
- * @param[in]   payload_len length of payload
- *
- * @returns     size of reply packet on success
- *
- *              Note that this size can be severely shortened if due to a No-Response option there
- *              is only an empty ACK to be sent back. The caller may just continue populating the
- *              payload (the space was checked to suffice), but may also skip that needless step
- *              if the returned length is less than the requested payload length.
- *
- * @returns     0 if no response should be sent due to a No-Response option in the request
- * @returns     <0 on error
- * @returns     -ENOSPC if @p rbuf too small
+ * Passing a non-zero @p max_data_len will ensure the remaining data fits into
+ * the buffer along with the header. For this validation, @p max_data_len must
+ * include any CoAP Options, the payload marker, as well as the payload proper.
+ *
+ * @param[in]   pkt             packet to reply to
+ * @param[in]   code            reply code (e.g., COAP_CODE_204)
+ * @param[out]  rbuf            buffer to write reply to
+ * @param[in]   rlen            size of @p rbuf
+ * @param[in]   max_data_len    Length of additional CoAP options, the payload marker and payload
+ *
+ * @return      @p max_data_len + size of the header written in bytes
+ *
+ * @retval      -ECANCELED          No-Response Option present and matching
+ * @retval      -ENOSPC             @p rbuf too small
+ * @retval      <0                  other error
+ *
+ * Usage:
+ *
+ * ```C
+ * static ssize_t _foo_handler(coap_pkt_t *pkt, uint8_t *buf, size_t len,
+ *                             coap_request_ctx_t *context)
+ * {
+ *     static const char *payload = "Hello World";
+ *     const payload_len = strlen(payload);
+ *     // Worst case estimation of the data to add:
+ *     size_t max_data_len = COAP_OPT_FOO_MAX_LEN + COAP_OPT_BAR_MAX_LEN
+ *                         + COAP_PAYLOAD_MARKER_SIZE + payload_len;
+ *     ssize_t hdr_len = coap_build_reply(pkt, COAP_CODE_CONTENT, buf, len, max_data_len);
+ *
+ *     if (hdr_len < 0) {
+ *         return hdr_len; // pass through error
+ *     }
+ *
+ *     // This step is needed due to an API design flaw
+ *     hdr_len -= max_data_len;
+ *
+ *     uint8_t *pos = buf + hdr_len;
+ *     uint16_t lastonum = 0;
+ *     pos += coap_opt_put_uint(buf, lastonum, COAP_OPT_FOO, 42);
+ *     lastonum = COAP_OPT_FOO;
+ *     pos += coap_opt_put_uint(buf, lastonum, COAP_OPT_BAR, 1337);
+ *     *pos++ = COAP_PAYLOAD_MARKER;
+ *     memcpy(pos, payload, payload_len);
+ *     pos += payload_len;
+ *     return (uintptr_t)pos - (uintptr_t)buf;
+ * }
+ * ```
  */
 ssize_t coap_build_reply(coap_pkt_t *pkt, unsigned code,
-                         uint8_t *rbuf, unsigned rlen, unsigned payload_len);
+                         uint8_t *rbuf, unsigned rlen, unsigned max_data_len);
 
 /**
  * @brief   Build empty reply to CoAP request
diff --git a/sys/net/application_layer/nanocoap/nanocoap.c b/sys/net/application_layer/nanocoap/nanocoap.c
index 1d218bbb945a..a5126f626106 100644
--- a/sys/net/application_layer/nanocoap/nanocoap.c
+++ b/sys/net/application_layer/nanocoap/nanocoap.c
@@ -508,8 +508,20 @@ ssize_t coap_handle_req(coap_pkt_t *pkt, uint8_t *resp_buf, unsigned resp_buf_le
     if (pkt->hdr->code == 0) {
         return coap_build_reply(pkt, COAP_CODE_EMPTY, resp_buf, resp_buf_len, 0);
     }
-    return coap_tree_handler(pkt, resp_buf, resp_buf_len, ctx,
-                             coap_resources, coap_resources_numof);
+
+    ssize_t retval =  coap_tree_handler(pkt, resp_buf, resp_buf_len, ctx,
+                                        coap_resources, coap_resources_numof);
+
+    if (retval == -ECANCELED) {
+        DEBUG_PUTS("nanocoap: No-Reponse Option present and matching");
+        /* ==> reply with empty ACK, if needed */
+        if (coap_get_type(pkt) == COAP_TYPE_CON) {
+            return coap_build_empty_ack(pkt, (void *)resp_buf);
+        }
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    return retval;
 }
 
 ssize_t coap_subtree_handler(coap_pkt_t *pkt, uint8_t *buf, size_t len,