diff --git a/arduino/beken-72xx/libraries/WiFi/WiFiAP.cpp b/arduino/beken-72xx/libraries/WiFi/WiFiAP.cpp
index 8ab59da..fc3bf6f 100644
--- a/arduino/beken-72xx/libraries/WiFi/WiFiAP.cpp
+++ b/arduino/beken-72xx/libraries/WiFi/WiFiAP.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,13 @@ bool WiFiClass::softAP(const char *ssid, const char *passphrase, int channel, bo
 
 	LT_IM(WIFI, "Creating SoftAP %s", ssid);
 
+	if (!AP_CFG->local_ip_addr[0]) {
+		LT_DM(WIFI, "Setting default IP config");
+		softAPConfig((uint32_t)0, (uint32_t)0, (uint32_t)0);
+	}
+
+	LT_DM(WIFI, "Static IP: %s / %s / %s", AP_CFG->local_ip_addr, AP_CFG->net_mask, AP_CFG->gateway_ip_addr);
+
 	__wrap_bk_printf_disable();
 	OSStatus ret = bk_wlan_start_ap_adv(AP_CFG);
 	__wrap_bk_printf_enable();
diff --git a/arduino/beken-72xx/libraries/WiFi/WiFiData.h b/arduino/beken-72xx/libraries/WiFi/WiFiData.h
index 28db49f..b572acb 100644
--- a/arduino/beken-72xx/libraries/WiFi/WiFiData.h
+++ b/arduino/beken-72xx/libraries/WiFi/WiFiData.h
@@ -21,4 +21,5 @@ typedef struct {
 	void *statusLink;
 	rw_evt_type lastStaEvent;
 	rw_evt_type lastApEvent;
+	bool apEnabled;
 } WiFiData;
diff --git a/arduino/beken-72xx/libraries/WiFi/WiFiGeneric.cpp b/arduino/beken-72xx/libraries/WiFi/WiFiGeneric.cpp
index 0e6c522..20ec5e3 100644
--- a/arduino/beken-72xx/libraries/WiFi/WiFiGeneric.cpp
+++ b/arduino/beken-72xx/libraries/WiFi/WiFiGeneric.cpp
@@ -44,16 +44,13 @@ bool WiFiClass::modePriv(WiFiMode mode, WiFiModeAction sta, WiFiModeAction ap) {
 
 	if (ap == WLMODE_ENABLE) {
 		LT_DM(WIFI, "Enabling AP");
-		bk_wlan_ap_init(NULL);
-#if CFG_WPA_CTRL_IFACE
-		wlan_ap_enable();
-		wlan_ap_reload();
-		uap_ip_down();
-#endif
+		// fake it - on BK7231, enabling the AP without starting it breaks all connection attempts
+		data.apEnabled = true;
 		wifiEventSendArduino(ARDUINO_EVENT_WIFI_AP_START);
 	} else if (ap == WLMODE_DISABLE) {
 		LT_DM(WIFI, "Disabling AP");
 		bk_wlan_stop(BK_SOFT_AP);
+		data.apEnabled = false;
 		wifiEventSendArduino(ARDUINO_EVENT_WIFI_AP_STOP);
 	}
 
@@ -71,7 +68,7 @@ bool WiFiClass::modePriv(WiFiMode mode, WiFiModeAction sta, WiFiModeAction ap) {
 
 WiFiMode WiFiClass::getMode() {
 	uint8_t sta = !!bk_wlan_has_role(VIF_STA) * WIFI_MODE_STA;
-	uint8_t ap	= !!bk_wlan_has_role(VIF_AP) * WIFI_MODE_AP;
+	uint8_t ap	= data.apEnabled * WIFI_MODE_AP; // report the faked value
 	return (WiFiMode)(sta | ap);
 }