diff --git a/netjsonconfig/backends/openwrt/renderers.py b/netjsonconfig/backends/openwrt/renderers.py
index 25a25c111..453b8aeb6 100644
--- a/netjsonconfig/backends/openwrt/renderers.py
+++ b/netjsonconfig/backends/openwrt/renderers.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 from ...utils import sorted_dict
 from ..base import BaseRenderer
 from ..openvpn.renderers import OpenVpnRenderer as BaseOpenVpnRenderer
+from .schema import default_radio_driver
 from .timezones import timezones
 
 
@@ -302,8 +303,7 @@ def _get_radios(self):
                 uci_radio['txpower'] = radio['tx_power']
                 del uci_radio['tx_power']
             # rename driver to type
-            uci_radio['type'] = radio['driver']
-            del uci_radio['driver']
+            uci_radio['type'] = uci_radio.pop('driver', default_radio_driver)
             # determine hwmode option
             uci_radio['hwmode'] = self.__get_hwmode(radio)
             del uci_radio['protocol']
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ def _get_radios(self):
             if uci_radio['channel'] is 0:
                 uci_radio['channel'] = 'auto'
             # determine channel width
-            if radio['driver'] == 'mac80211':
+            if uci_radio['type'] == 'mac80211':
                 uci_radio['htmode'] = self.__get_htmode(radio)
             del uci_radio['channel_width']
             # ensure country is uppercase
diff --git a/netjsonconfig/backends/openwrt/schema.py b/netjsonconfig/backends/openwrt/schema.py
index 3ad9ebd01..8a5da976f 100644
--- a/netjsonconfig/backends/openwrt/schema.py
+++ b/netjsonconfig/backends/openwrt/schema.py
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@
 from ..openvpn.schema import base_openvpn_schema
 from .timezones import timezones
 
+
+default_radio_driver = "mac80211"
+
+
 schema = merge_config(default_schema, {
     "definitions": {
         "interface_settings": {
@@ -113,7 +117,6 @@
             ]
         },
         "base_radio_settings": {
-            "required": ["driver"],
             "properties": {
                 "driver": {
                     "type": "string",
@@ -124,6 +127,7 @@
                         "ath9k",
                         "broadcom"
                     ],
+                    "default": default_radio_driver,
                     "propertyOrder": 2,
                 }
             }
diff --git a/tests/openwrt/test_netjson.py b/tests/openwrt/test_netjson.py
index 957d3c744..be46a83b8 100644
--- a/tests/openwrt/test_netjson.py
+++ b/tests/openwrt/test_netjson.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import unittest
-from urllib.request import urlopen
 
 from netjsonconfig import OpenWrt
 
diff --git a/tests/openwrt/test_radio.py b/tests/openwrt/test_radio.py
index 6e6a4c331..7e338108a 100644
--- a/tests/openwrt/test_radio.py
+++ b/tests/openwrt/test_radio.py
@@ -380,5 +380,34 @@ def test_htmode_override(self):
     option hwmode '11a'
     option phy 'phy0'
     option type 'mac80211'
+""")
+        self.assertEqual(o.render(), expected)
+
+    def test_default_driver(self):
+        o = OpenWrt({
+            "radios": [
+                {
+                    "name": "radio0",
+                    "protocol": "802.11ac",
+                    "channel": 1,
+                    "channel_width": 80,
+                    "phy": "phy0",
+                    "country": "US",
+                    "tx_power": 10,
+                    "disabled": False,
+                }
+            ]
+        })
+        expected = self._tabs("""package wireless
+
+config wifi-device 'radio0'
+    option channel '1'
+    option country 'US'
+    option disabled '0'
+    option htmode 'VHT80'
+    option hwmode '11g'
+    option phy 'phy0'
+    option txpower '10'
+    option type 'mac80211'
 """)
         self.assertEqual(o.render(), expected)