diff --git a/wpa_supplicant/wpa_cli.c b/wpa_supplicant/wpa_cli.c
index b1334e2e6..60f85624f 100644
--- a/wpa_supplicant/wpa_cli.c
+++ b/wpa_supplicant/wpa_cli.c
@@ -5129,7 +5129,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	eloop_register_signal_terminate(wpa_cli_terminate, NULL);
 
-	if (ctrl_ifname == NULL)
+	if (!ctrl_ifname && !global)
 		ctrl_ifname = wpa_cli_get_default_ifname();
 
 	if (reconnect && action_file && ctrl_ifname) {