diff --git a/src/etc/inc/interfaces.inc b/src/etc/inc/interfaces.inc
index 5a33801cb..07f8d9aac 100644
--- a/src/etc/inc/interfaces.inc
+++ b/src/etc/inc/interfaces.inc
@@ -215,7 +215,8 @@ function _interfaces_bridge_configure($bridge, $ifconfig_details = null)
     $this_if = !empty($ifconfig_details[$bridgeif]) ? $ifconfig_details[$bridgeif] : [];
 
     if (empty($ifconfig_details[$bridgeif]) && empty(legacy_interface_create($bridgeif))) {
-        return; /* not found, unable to create. errors are logged inside legacy_interface_create() */
+        /* not found, unable to create. errors are logged inside legacy_interface_create() */
+        return null;
     }
 
     /* find all required members */