diff --git a/hostapd/config_file.c b/hostapd/config_file.c
index cd68e3e..21104d3 100644
--- a/hostapd/config_file.c
+++ b/hostapd/config_file.c
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
 			return -1;
 		}
 
-		vlan = os_malloc(sizeof(*vlan));
+		vlan = os_zalloc(sizeof(*vlan));
 		if (vlan == NULL) {
 			wpa_printf(MSG_ERROR, "Out of memory while reading "
 				   "VLAN interfaces from '%s'", fname);
@@ -91,7 +91,6 @@
 			return -1;
 		}
 
-		os_memset(vlan, 0, sizeof(*vlan));
 		vlan->vlan_id = vlan_id;
 		os_strlcpy(vlan->ifname, pos, sizeof(vlan->ifname));
 		if (bss->vlan_tail)
diff --git a/hostapd/hostapd.conf b/hostapd/hostapd.conf
index d442586..6a1c500 100644
--- a/hostapd/hostapd.conf
+++ b/hostapd/hostapd.conf
@@ -814,9 +814,8 @@
 # is used for the stations. This information is parsed from following RADIUS
 # attributes based on RFC 3580 and RFC 2868: Tunnel-Type (value 13 = VLAN),
 # Tunnel-Medium-Type (value 6 = IEEE 802), Tunnel-Private-Group-ID (value
-# VLANID as a string). vlan_file option below must be configured if dynamic
-# VLANs are used. Optionally, the local MAC ACL list (accept_mac_file) can be
-# used to set static client MAC address to VLAN ID mapping.
+# VLANID as a string). Optionally, the local MAC ACL list (accept_mac_file) can
+# be used to set static client MAC address to VLAN ID mapping.
 # 0 = disabled (default)
 # 1 = option; use default interface if RADIUS server does not include VLAN ID
 # 2 = required; reject authentication if RADIUS server does not include VLAN ID
@@ -828,6 +827,8 @@
 # multiple BSSIDs or SSIDs. Each line in this text file is defining a new
 # interface and the line must include VLAN ID and interface name separated by
 # white space (space or tab).
+# If no entries are provided by this file, the station is statically mapped
+# to <bss-iface>.<vlan-id> interfaces.
 #vlan_file=/etc/hostapd.vlan
 
 # Interface where 802.1q tagged packets should appear when a RADIUS server is
diff --git a/hostapd/main.c b/hostapd/main.c
index d2ec1a5..fb82a02 100644
--- a/hostapd/main.c
+++ b/hostapd/main.c
@@ -194,6 +194,8 @@
 	return hapd_iface;
 
 fail:
+	wpa_printf(MSG_ERROR, "Failed to set up interface with %s",
+		   config_file);
 	if (conf)
 		hostapd_config_free(conf);
 	if (hapd_iface) {
@@ -301,13 +303,18 @@
 			iface->bss[0]->conf->logger_stdout_level--;
 	}
 
-	if (iface->conf->bss[0].iface[0] != 0 ||
-	    hostapd_drv_none(iface->bss[0])) {
-		if (hostapd_driver_init(iface) ||
-			hostapd_setup_interface(iface)) {
-			hostapd_interface_deinit_free(iface);
-			return NULL;
-		}
+	if (iface->conf->bss[0].iface[0] == '\0' &&
+	    !hostapd_drv_none(iface->bss[0])) {
+		wpa_printf(MSG_ERROR, "Interface name not specified in %s",
+			   config_fname);
+		hostapd_interface_deinit_free(iface);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	if (hostapd_driver_init(iface) ||
+	    hostapd_setup_interface(iface)) {
+		hostapd_interface_deinit_free(iface);
+		return NULL;
 	}
 
 	return iface;
@@ -647,22 +654,28 @@
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (hostapd_global_init(&interfaces, entropy_file))
+	if (hostapd_global_init(&interfaces, entropy_file)) {
+		wpa_printf(MSG_ERROR, "Failed to initilize global context");
 		return -1;
+	}
 
 	/* Initialize interfaces */
 	for (i = 0; i < interfaces.count; i++) {
 		interfaces.iface[i] = hostapd_interface_init(&interfaces,
 							     argv[optind + i],
 							     debug);
-		if (!interfaces.iface[i])
+		if (!interfaces.iface[i]) {
+			wpa_printf(MSG_ERROR, "Failed to initialize interface");
 			goto out;
+		}
 	}
 
 	hostapd_global_ctrl_iface_init(&interfaces);
 
-	if (hostapd_global_run(&interfaces, daemonize, pid_file))
+	if (hostapd_global_run(&interfaces, daemonize, pid_file)) {
+		wpa_printf(MSG_ERROR, "Failed to start eloop");
 		goto out;
+	}
 
 	ret = 0;