diff --git a/hostapd/main.c b/hostapd/main.c
index b0903cfc3..2748c61f1 100644
--- a/hostapd/main.c
+++ b/hostapd/main.c
@@ -339,10 +339,12 @@ hostapd_interface_init(struct hapd_interfaces *interfaces,
 			iface->bss[0]->conf->logger_stdout_level--;
 	}
 
-	if (hostapd_driver_init(iface) ||
-	    hostapd_setup_interface(iface)) {
-		hostapd_interface_deinit_free(iface);
-		return NULL;
+	if (iface->conf->bss[0].iface[0] != 0) {
+		if (hostapd_driver_init(iface) ||
+			hostapd_setup_interface(iface)) {
+			hostapd_interface_deinit_free(iface);
+			return NULL;
+		}
 	}
 
 	return iface;