diff --git a/wifi/1.4/default/wifi_chip.cpp b/wifi/1.4/default/wifi_chip.cpp
index 61912a53e0..fa4f354e62 100644
--- a/wifi/1.4/default/wifi_chip.cpp
+++ b/wifi/1.4/default/wifi_chip.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include <android-base/logging.h>
 #include <android-base/unique_fd.h>
 #include <cutils/properties.h>
+#include <net/if.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <sys/sysmacros.h>
 
@@ -885,7 +886,7 @@ std::pair<WifiStatus, sp<IWifiNanIface>> WifiChip::createNanIfaceInternal() {
     }
     bool is_dedicated_iface = true;
     std::string ifname = getNanIfaceName();
-    if (ifname.empty()) {
+    if (ifname.empty() || if_nametoindex(ifname.c_str())) {
         // Use the first shared STA iface (wlan0) if a dedicated aware iface is
         // not defined.
         ifname = getFirstActiveWlanIfaceName();