diff --git a/package/network/services/dnsmasq/files/dnsmasq.init b/package/network/services/dnsmasq/files/dnsmasq.init
index 54cb0ebfc8..2b81a61bcc 100644
--- a/package/network/services/dnsmasq/files/dnsmasq.init
+++ b/package/network/services/dnsmasq/files/dnsmasq.init
@@ -119,12 +119,12 @@ append_ipset() {
 }
 
 append_interface() {
-	network_get_device ifname "$1"
+	network_get_device ifname "$1" || return
 	xappend "--interface=$ifname"
 }
 
 append_notinterface() {
-	network_get_device ifname "$1"
+	network_get_device ifname "$1" || return
 	xappend "--except-interface=$ifname"
 }