diff --git a/libexec/rc/rc.d/hostapd b/libexec/rc/rc.d/hostapd
index 7e1611350438..d2d8dd253efa 100755
--- a/libexec/rc/rc.d/hostapd
+++ b/libexec/rc/rc.d/hostapd
@@ -15,9 +15,11 @@ command=${hostapd_program}
 start_postcmd="hostapd_poststart"
 
 hostapd_poststart() {
-	ifconfig ${ifn} down
-	sleep 2
-	ifconfig ${ifn} up
+	if [ -n "$ifn" ]; then
+		ifconfig ${ifn} down
+		sleep 2
+		ifconfig ${ifn} up
+	fi
 }
 
 ifn="$2"