diff --git a/package/kernel/mac80211/files/lib/netifd/wireless/mac80211.sh b/package/kernel/mac80211/files/lib/netifd/wireless/mac80211.sh
index 824c87ac15..4f680a41f5 100644
--- a/package/kernel/mac80211/files/lib/netifd/wireless/mac80211.sh
+++ b/package/kernel/mac80211/files/lib/netifd/wireless/mac80211.sh
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ mac80211_prepare_vif() {
 			mac80211_hostapd_setup_bss "$phy" "$ifname" "$macaddr" "$type" || return
 
 			[ -n "$hostapd_ctrl" ] || {
-				iw phy "$phy" interface add "$ifname" type managed
+				iw phy "$phy" interface add "$ifname" type __ap
 				hostapd_ctrl="${hostapd_ctrl:-/var/run/hostapd/$ifname}"
 			}
 		;;