diff --git a/roles/network/tasks/hostapd.yml b/roles/network/tasks/hostapd.yml
index 3a49d0c30..0f4001a6b 100644
--- a/roles/network/tasks/hostapd.yml
+++ b/roles/network/tasks/hostapd.yml
@@ -135,8 +135,8 @@
 - name: Enable the Access Point 'hostapd' service
   systemd:
     name: hostapd
+    masked: no
     enabled: yes
-    force: yes
   when: hostapd_enabled
 
 - name: Record HOSTAPD_ENABLED to {{ iiab_env_file }}