diff --git a/package/network/services/hostapd/patches/700-wifi-reload.patch b/package/network/services/hostapd/patches/700-wifi-reload.patch
index c5ba631a0f..b21ae85451 100644
--- a/package/network/services/hostapd/patches/700-wifi-reload.patch
+++ b/package/network/services/hostapd/patches/700-wifi-reload.patch
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
  	hapd->iconf = conf;
  	hapd->conf = bss;
  	hapd->iface = hapd_iface;
-+	if (bss->config_id)
++	if (bss && bss->config_id)
 +		hapd->config_id = strdup(bss->config_id);
 +	else
 +		hapd->config_id = NULL;