diff --git a/src/ap/hostapd.c b/src/ap/hostapd.c
index a3f97196d..841f9c59c 100644
--- a/src/ap/hostapd.c
+++ b/src/ap/hostapd.c
@@ -78,6 +78,11 @@ int hostapd_reload_config(struct hostapd_iface *iface)
 			   "after reloading configuration");
 	}
 
+	if (hapd->conf->ieee802_1x || hapd->conf->wpa)
+		hapd->drv.set_drv_ieee8021x(hapd, hapd->conf->iface, 1);
+	else
+		hapd->drv.set_drv_ieee8021x(hapd, hapd->conf->iface, 0);
+
 	if (hapd->conf->wpa && hapd->wpa_auth == NULL)
 		hostapd_setup_wpa(hapd);
 	else if (hapd->conf->wpa) {
@@ -106,11 +111,6 @@ int hostapd_reload_config(struct hostapd_iface *iface)
 		/* try to continue */
 	}
 
-	if (hapd->conf->ieee802_1x || hapd->conf->wpa)
-		hapd->drv.set_drv_ieee8021x(hapd, hapd->conf->iface, 1);
-	else
-		hapd->drv.set_drv_ieee8021x(hapd, hapd->conf->iface, 0);
-
 	hostapd_config_free(oldconf);
 
 	wpa_printf(MSG_DEBUG, "Reconfigured interface %s", hapd->conf->iface);