diff --git a/tests/hwsim/hostapd.py b/tests/hwsim/hostapd.py
index 44035b3..a7d6424 100644
--- a/tests/hwsim/hostapd.py
+++ b/tests/hwsim/hostapd.py
@@ -413,6 +413,7 @@ def add_bss(apdev, ifname, confname, phy=None, ignore_error=False):
     hapd = Hostapd(ifname, hostname=hostname, port=port)
     if not hapd.ping():
         raise Exception("Could not ping hostapd")
+    return hapd
 
 def add_iface(apdev, confname, ifname=None):
     if ifname == None:
@@ -431,6 +432,7 @@ def add_iface(apdev, confname, ifname=None):
     hapd = Hostapd(ifname, hostname=hostname, port=port)
     if not hapd.ping():
         raise Exception("Could not ping hostapd")
+    return hapd
 
 def remove_bss(apdev, ifname=None):
     if ifname == None: