diff --git a/package/madwifi/files/lib/wifi/madwifi.sh b/package/madwifi/files/lib/wifi/madwifi.sh
index 1e5b0db4e9..65f9637217 100755
--- a/package/madwifi/files/lib/wifi/madwifi.sh
+++ b/package/madwifi/files/lib/wifi/madwifi.sh
@@ -219,6 +219,8 @@ enable_atheros() {
 		[ -n "$antrx" ] && sysctl -w dev."$device".rxantenna="$antrx" >&-
 		[ -n "$anttx" ] && sysctl -w dev."$device".txantenna="$anttx" >&-
 		[ -n "$softled" ] && sysctl -w dev."$device".softled="$softled" >&-
+
+		config_get distance "$device" distance
 		[ -n "$distance" ] && sysctl -w dev."$device".distance="$distance" >&-
 
 		config_get rate "$vif" rate