diff --git a/tests/hwsim/test_ap_acs.py b/tests/hwsim/test_ap_acs.py
index 05e1ad126..89abb24e6 100644
--- a/tests/hwsim/test_ap_acs.py
+++ b/tests/hwsim/test_ap_acs.py
@@ -89,12 +89,10 @@ def test_ap_acs_chanlist(dev, apdev):
 def test_ap_multi_bss_acs(dev, apdev):
     """hostapd start with a multi-BSS configuration file using ACS"""
     skip_with_fips(dev[0])
-    ifname = apdev[0]['ifname']
     force_prev_ap_on_24g(apdev[0])
 
     # start the actual test
-    hostapd.add_iface(apdev[0], 'multi-bss-acs.conf')
-    hapd = hostapd.Hostapd(ifname)
+    hapd = hostapd.add_iface(apdev[0], 'multi-bss-acs.conf')
     hapd.enable()
     wait_acs(hapd)
 
diff --git a/tests/hwsim/test_ap_dynamic.py b/tests/hwsim/test_ap_dynamic.py
index 76fdaf151..7dab735d7 100644
--- a/tests/hwsim/test_ap_dynamic.py
+++ b/tests/hwsim/test_ap_dynamic.py
@@ -182,8 +182,7 @@ def test_ap_multi_bss_config(dev, apdev):
     ifname2 = apdev[0]['ifname'] + '-2'
     ifname3 = apdev[0]['ifname'] + '-3'
     logger.info("Set up three BSSes with one configuration file")
-    hostapd.add_iface(apdev[0], 'multi-bss.conf')
-    hapd = hostapd.Hostapd(ifname1)
+    hapd = hostapd.add_iface(apdev[0], 'multi-bss.conf')
     hapd.enable()
     multi_check(dev, [ True, True, True ])
     hostapd.remove_bss(apdev[0], ifname2)
@@ -193,8 +192,7 @@ def test_ap_multi_bss_config(dev, apdev):
     hostapd.remove_bss(apdev[0], ifname1)
     multi_check(dev, [ False, False, False ])
 
-    hostapd.add_iface(apdev[0], 'multi-bss.conf')
-    hapd = hostapd.Hostapd(ifname1)
+    hapd = hostapd.add_iface(apdev[0], 'multi-bss.conf')
     hapd.enable()
     hostapd.remove_bss(apdev[0], ifname1)
     multi_check(dev, [ False, False, False ])
diff --git a/tests/hwsim/test_ap_vlan.py b/tests/hwsim/test_ap_vlan.py
index 79c4166af..7ca4eda19 100644
--- a/tests/hwsim/test_ap_vlan.py
+++ b/tests/hwsim/test_ap_vlan.py
@@ -327,11 +327,8 @@ def ap_vlan_iface_cleanup_multibss(dev, apdev, cfgfile):
                       "vlan_naming": "1" }
         authserv = hostapd.add_ap(apdev[1], as_params)
 
-        ifname = apdev[0]['ifname']
-
         # start the actual test
-        hostapd.add_iface(apdev[0], cfgfile)
-        hapd = hostapd.Hostapd(ifname)
+        hapd = hostapd.add_iface(apdev[0], cfgfile)
         hapd1 = hostapd.Hostapd("wlan3-2", 1)
         hapd1.enable()