diff --git a/tests/hwsim/test_hostapd_error.py b/tests/hwsim/test_hostapd_error.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0081b3004
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/hwsim/test_hostapd_error.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# hostapd error paths
+# Copyright (c) 2024, Jouni Malinen <j@w1.fi>
+#
+# This software may be distributed under the terms of the BSD license.
+# See README for more details.
+
+import hostapd
+from utils import *
+
+def test_hostapd_error_drv_init(dev, apdev):
+    """hostapd error path on driver interface initialization failure"""
+    hapd = hostapd.add_ap(apdev[0], {"ssid": "ctrl"})
+    with fail_test(hapd, 1, "nl80211_setup_ap"):
+        hapd1 = hostapd.add_ap(apdev[1], {"ssid": "open"}, no_enable=True)
+        if "FAIL" not in hapd1.request("ENABLE"):
+            raise Exception("ENABLE succeeded unexpectedly")