[Bug 278306] service netif start doesn't bring up the wireless interface if /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf is missing

https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=278306

            Bug ID: 278306
           Summary: service netif start doesn't bring up the wireless
                    interface if /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf is missing
           Product: Base System
           Version: CURRENT
          Hardware: Any
                OS: Any
            Status: New
          Severity: Affects Many People
          Priority: ---
         Component: wireless
          Assignee: wireless@FreeBSD.org
          Reporter: arrowd@FreeBSD.org

A fresh FreeBSD installation may end up with no /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf file
existing. It may happen when an user completely skipped any network interfaces
setup in the installer.

Now, I do necessary adjustments in /etc/rc.conf

wlans_foo0=wlan0
ifconfig_wlan0="WPA DHCP"

then do

service netif restart

to apply them and then expect "ifconfig wlan0 scan" to give me a list of
networks available.

However, restarting the netif service results in

...
Destroyed wlan(4) interfaces: wlan0.
Created wlan(4) interfaces: wlan0.
/etc/rc.d/wpa_supplicant: WARNING: /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf is not readable.
/etc/rc.d/wpa_supplicant: WARNING: failed precmd routine for wpa_supplicant
Starting Network: lo0 wlan0.
...

This in turn leads to wlan0 interface remain in "down" state, which prevents
"ifconfig wlan0 scan" from returning anything useful.

From an user perspective I found it a bit misleading. I wasted some time trying
to figure out why I don't see any networks until I ran "ifconfig wlan0 up".

Would it be possible to bring the interface up regardless of the
wpa_supplicant.conf file present?

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