diff --git a/modules/hostap/Kconfig b/modules/hostap/Kconfig
index 39a2f7a2187..f4607caa2fc 100644
--- a/modules/hostap/Kconfig
+++ b/modules/hostap/Kconfig
@@ -349,6 +349,7 @@ config WIFI_NM_WPA_SUPPLICANT_11AX
 
 config WPA_CLI
 	bool "WPA CLI support"
+	default y if WIFI_NM_WPA_SUPPLICANT_CLI
 	help
 	  Enable WPA CLI support for wpa_supplicant.