diff --git a/examples/platforms/simulation/radio.c b/examples/platforms/simulation/radio.c
index a1baca64f..2e856dc15 100644
--- a/examples/platforms/simulation/radio.c
+++ b/examples/platforms/simulation/radio.c
@@ -830,7 +830,8 @@ void radioSendAck(void)
     if (
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_THREAD_VERSION >= OT_THREAD_VERSION_1_2
         // Determine if frame pending should be set
-        (otMacFrameIsData(&sReceiveFrame) || otMacFrameIsDataRequest(&sReceiveFrame))
+        ((otMacFrameIsVersion2015(&sReceiveFrame) && otMacFrameIsCommand(&sReceiveFrame)) ||
+         otMacFrameIsData(&sReceiveFrame) || otMacFrameIsDataRequest(&sReceiveFrame))
 #else
         otMacFrameIsDataRequest(&sReceiveFrame)
 #endif
diff --git a/examples/platforms/utils/mac_frame.cpp b/examples/platforms/utils/mac_frame.cpp
index b9ef7e333..dcaa6d119 100644
--- a/examples/platforms/utils/mac_frame.cpp
+++ b/examples/platforms/utils/mac_frame.cpp
@@ -76,6 +76,11 @@ bool otMacFrameIsData(const otRadioFrame *aFrame)
     return static_cast<const Mac::Frame *>(aFrame)->GetType() == Mac::Frame::kFcfFrameData;
 }
 
+bool otMacFrameIsCommand(const otRadioFrame *aFrame)
+{
+    return static_cast<const Mac::Frame *>(aFrame)->GetType() == Mac::Frame::kFcfFrameMacCmd;
+}
+
 bool otMacFrameIsDataRequest(const otRadioFrame *aFrame)
 {
     return static_cast<const Mac::Frame *>(aFrame)->IsDataRequestCommand();
diff --git a/examples/platforms/utils/mac_frame.h b/examples/platforms/utils/mac_frame.h
index f7fff115f..edac95fe0 100644
--- a/examples/platforms/utils/mac_frame.h
+++ b/examples/platforms/utils/mac_frame.h
@@ -91,10 +91,22 @@ bool otMacFrameIsAck(const otRadioFrame *aFrame);
 bool otMacFrameIsData(const otRadioFrame *aFrame);
 
 /**
- * Check if @p aFrame is an Data Request Command.
+ * Check if @p aFrame is a Command frame.
  *
  * @param[in]   aFrame          A pointer to the frame.
  *
+ * @retval  true    It is a Command frame.
+ * @retval  false   It is not a Command frame.
+ *
+ */
+bool otMacFrameIsCommand(const otRadioFrame *aFrame);
+
+/**
+ * Check if @p aFrame is a Data Request Command.
+ *
+ * @param[in]   aFrame          A pointer to the frame. For 802.15.4-2015 and above frame,
+ *                              the frame should be already decrypted.
+ *
  * @retval  true    It is a Data Request Command frame.
  * @retval  false   It is not a Data Request Command frame.
  *
diff --git a/src/core/mac/mac_frame.hpp b/src/core/mac/mac_frame.hpp
index 1063be592..fea5c59e6 100644
--- a/src/core/mac/mac_frame.hpp
+++ b/src/core/mac/mac_frame.hpp
@@ -733,7 +733,9 @@ public:
     otError SetCommandId(uint8_t aCommandId);
 
     /**
-     * This method indicates whether the frame is a MAC Data Request command (data poll)
+     * This method indicates whether the frame is a MAC Data Request command (data poll).
+     *
+     * For 802.15.4-2015 and above frame, the frame should be already decrypted.
      *
      * @returns TRUE if frame is a MAC Data Request command, FALSE otherwise.
      *