diff --git a/hostapd/main.c b/hostapd/main.c
index 8b9b96a69..58cc86a08 100644
--- a/hostapd/main.c
+++ b/hostapd/main.c
@@ -158,6 +158,9 @@ static int hostapd_driver_init(struct hostapd_iface *iface)
 	struct hostapd_bss_config *conf = hapd->conf;
 	u8 *b = conf->bssid;
 	struct wpa_driver_capa capa;
+#ifdef CONFIG_IEEE80211BE
+	struct hostapd_data *h_hapd = NULL;
+#endif /* CONFIG_IEEE80211BE */
 
 	if (hapd->driver == NULL || hapd->driver->hapd_init == NULL) {
 		wpa_printf(MSG_ERROR, "No hostapd driver wrapper available");
@@ -165,35 +168,10 @@ static int hostapd_driver_init(struct hostapd_iface *iface)
 	}
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_IEEE80211BE
-	for (i = 0; conf->mld_ap && i < iface->interfaces->count; i++) {
-		struct hostapd_iface *h = iface->interfaces->iface[i];
-		struct hostapd_data *h_hapd = h->bss[0];
-		struct hostapd_bss_config *hconf = h_hapd->conf;
-
-		if (h == iface) {
-			wpa_printf(MSG_DEBUG, "MLD: Skip own interface");
-			continue;
-		}
-
-		if (!hconf->mld_ap) {
-			wpa_printf(MSG_DEBUG,
-				   "MLD: Skip non-MLD");
-			continue;
-		}
-
-		if (!hostapd_is_ml_partner(hapd, h_hapd)) {
-			wpa_printf(MSG_DEBUG,
-				   "MLD: Skip non matching MLD vif name");
-			continue;
-		}
-
-		wpa_printf(MSG_DEBUG, "MLD: Found matching MLD interface");
-		if (!h_hapd->drv_priv) {
-			wpa_printf(MSG_DEBUG,
-				   "MLD: Matching MLD BSS not initialized yet");
-			continue;
-		}
+	if (conf->mld_ap)
+		h_hapd = hostapd_mld_get_first_bss(hapd);
 
+	if (h_hapd) {
 		hapd->drv_priv = h_hapd->drv_priv;
 		hapd->interface_added = h_hapd->interface_added;
 
@@ -214,6 +192,9 @@ static int hostapd_driver_init(struct hostapd_iface *iface)
 		}
 
 		hostapd_mld_add_link(hapd);
+		wpa_printf(MSG_DEBUG,
+			   "Setup of non first link (%d) BSS of MLD %s",
+			   hapd->mld_link_id, hapd->conf->iface);
 
 		goto setup_mld;
 	}
@@ -298,6 +279,8 @@ static int hostapd_driver_init(struct hostapd_iface *iface)
 			os_memcpy(hapd->own_addr, b, ETH_ALEN);
 
 		hostapd_mld_add_link(hapd);
+		wpa_printf(MSG_DEBUG, "Setup of first link (%d) BSS of MLD %s",
+			   hapd->mld_link_id, hapd->conf->iface);
 	}
 
 setup_mld:
diff --git a/src/ap/hostapd.c b/src/ap/hostapd.c
index 56bac4526..800e54501 100644
--- a/src/ap/hostapd.c
+++ b/src/ap/hostapd.c
@@ -1379,6 +1379,23 @@ static int hostapd_setup_bss(struct hostapd_data *hapd, int first,
 			} while (mac_in_conf(hapd->iconf, hapd->own_addr));
 		}
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_IEEE80211BE
+		if (conf->mld_ap) {
+			struct hostapd_data *h_hapd;
+
+			h_hapd = hostapd_mld_get_first_bss(hapd);
+			if (h_hapd) {
+				hapd->drv_priv = h_hapd->drv_priv;
+				hapd->interface_added = h_hapd->interface_added;
+				hostapd_mld_add_link(hapd);
+				wpa_printf(MSG_DEBUG,
+					   "Setup of non first link (%d) BSS of MLD %s",
+					   hapd->mld_link_id, hapd->conf->iface);
+				goto setup_mld;
+			}
+		}
+#endif /* CONFIG_IEEE80211BE */
+
 		hapd->interface_added = 1;
 		if (hostapd_if_add(hapd->iface->bss[0], WPA_IF_AP_BSS,
 				   conf->iface, addr, hapd,
@@ -1393,8 +1410,34 @@ static int hostapd_setup_bss(struct hostapd_data *hapd, int first,
 
 		if (!addr)
 			os_memcpy(hapd->own_addr, if_addr, ETH_ALEN);
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_IEEE80211BE
+		if (hapd->conf->mld_ap) {
+			wpa_printf(MSG_DEBUG,
+				   "Setup of first link (%d) BSS of MLD %s",
+				   hapd->mld_link_id, hapd->conf->iface);
+			os_memcpy(hapd->mld->mld_addr, hapd->own_addr,
+				  ETH_ALEN);
+			hostapd_mld_add_link(hapd);
+		}
+#endif /* CONFIG_IEEE80211BE */
 	}
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_IEEE80211BE
+setup_mld:
+	if (hapd->conf->mld_ap && !first) {
+		wpa_printf(MSG_DEBUG,
+			   "MLD: Set link_id=%u, mld_addr=" MACSTR
+			   ", own_addr=" MACSTR,
+			   hapd->mld_link_id, MAC2STR(hapd->mld->mld_addr),
+			   MAC2STR(hapd->own_addr));
+
+		if (hostapd_drv_link_add(hapd, hapd->mld_link_id,
+					 hapd->own_addr))
+			return -1;
+	}
+#endif /* CONFIG_IEEE80211BE */
+
 	if (conf->wmm_enabled < 0)
 		conf->wmm_enabled = hapd->iconf->ieee80211n |
 			hapd->iconf->ieee80211ax;
@@ -4681,17 +4724,28 @@ void hostapd_ocv_check_csa_sa_query(void *eloop_ctx, void *timeout_ctx)
 struct hostapd_data * hostapd_mld_get_link_bss(struct hostapd_data *hapd,
 					       u8 link_id)
 {
-	unsigned int i;
+	struct hostapd_iface *iface;
+	struct hostapd_data *bss;
+	unsigned int i, j;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < hapd->iface->interfaces->count; i++) {
-		struct hostapd_iface *h = hapd->iface->interfaces->iface[i];
-		struct hostapd_data *h_hapd = h->bss[0];
-
-		if (!hostapd_is_ml_partner(hapd, h_hapd))
+		iface = hapd->iface->interfaces->iface[i];
+		if (!iface)
 			continue;
 
-		if (h_hapd->mld_link_id == link_id)
-			return h_hapd;
+		for (j = 0; j < iface->num_bss; j++) {
+			bss = iface->bss[j];
+
+			if (!bss->conf->mld_ap ||
+			    !hostapd_is_ml_partner(hapd, bss))
+				continue;
+
+			if (!bss->drv_priv)
+				continue;
+
+			if (bss->mld_link_id == link_id)
+				return bss;
+		}
 	}
 
 	return NULL;