diff --git a/package/kernel/mac80211/files/lib/netifd/wireless/mac80211.sh b/package/kernel/mac80211/files/lib/netifd/wireless/mac80211.sh
index a7848bd8ad..ec0966ea8d 100644
--- a/package/kernel/mac80211/files/lib/netifd/wireless/mac80211.sh
+++ b/package/kernel/mac80211/files/lib/netifd/wireless/mac80211.sh
@@ -318,6 +318,7 @@ mac80211_hostapd_setup_bss() {
 	json_get_vars wds dtim_period max_listen_int start_disabled
 
 	set_default wds 0
+	set_default start_disabled 0
 
 	[ "$wds" -gt 0 ] && append hostapd_cfg "wds_sta=1" "$N"
 	[ "$staidx" -gt 0 -o "$start_disabled" -eq 1 ] && append hostapd_cfg "start_disabled=1" "$N"