diff --git a/hostapd/hostapd.conf b/hostapd/hostapd.conf
index d4425866b..6a1c500bd 100644
--- a/hostapd/hostapd.conf
+++ b/hostapd/hostapd.conf
@@ -814,9 +814,8 @@ own_ip_addr=127.0.0.1
 # is used for the stations. This information is parsed from following RADIUS
 # attributes based on RFC 3580 and RFC 2868: Tunnel-Type (value 13 = VLAN),
 # Tunnel-Medium-Type (value 6 = IEEE 802), Tunnel-Private-Group-ID (value
-# VLANID as a string). vlan_file option below must be configured if dynamic
-# VLANs are used. Optionally, the local MAC ACL list (accept_mac_file) can be
-# used to set static client MAC address to VLAN ID mapping.
+# VLANID as a string). Optionally, the local MAC ACL list (accept_mac_file) can
+# be used to set static client MAC address to VLAN ID mapping.
 # 0 = disabled (default)
 # 1 = option; use default interface if RADIUS server does not include VLAN ID
 # 2 = required; reject authentication if RADIUS server does not include VLAN ID
@@ -828,6 +827,8 @@ own_ip_addr=127.0.0.1
 # multiple BSSIDs or SSIDs. Each line in this text file is defining a new
 # interface and the line must include VLAN ID and interface name separated by
 # white space (space or tab).
+# If no entries are provided by this file, the station is statically mapped
+# to <bss-iface>.<vlan-id> interfaces.
 #vlan_file=/etc/hostapd.vlan
 
 # Interface where 802.1q tagged packets should appear when a RADIUS server is
diff --git a/src/ap/vlan_init.c b/src/ap/vlan_init.c
index 7b1a9e671..6390e8bdc 100644
--- a/src/ap/vlan_init.c
+++ b/src/ap/vlan_init.c
@@ -837,6 +837,27 @@ int vlan_init(struct hostapd_data *hapd)
 	hapd->full_dynamic_vlan = full_dynamic_vlan_init(hapd);
 #endif /* CONFIG_FULL_DYNAMIC_VLAN */
 
+	if (hapd->conf->ssid.dynamic_vlan != DYNAMIC_VLAN_DISABLED &&
+	    !hapd->conf->vlan) {
+		/* dynamic vlans enabled but no (or empty) vlan_file given */
+		struct hostapd_vlan *vlan;
+		vlan = os_zalloc(sizeof(*vlan));
+		if (vlan == NULL) {
+			wpa_printf(MSG_ERROR, "Out of memory while assigning "
+				   "VLAN interfaces");
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		vlan->vlan_id = VLAN_ID_WILDCARD;
+		os_snprintf(vlan->ifname, sizeof(vlan->ifname), "%s.#",
+			    hapd->conf->iface);
+		if (hapd->conf->vlan_tail)
+			hapd->conf->vlan_tail->next = vlan;
+		else
+			hapd->conf->vlan = vlan;
+		hapd->conf->vlan_tail = vlan;
+	}
+
 	if (vlan_dynamic_add(hapd, hapd->conf->vlan))
 		return -1;