diff --git a/core/res/res/values/config.xml b/core/res/res/values/config.xml
index 50b3a35dbdf70..a3b81327b738a 100644
--- a/core/res/res/values/config.xml
+++ b/core/res/res/values/config.xml
@@ -352,6 +352,10 @@
     <!-- Wifi driver supports batched scan -->
     <bool translatable="false" name="config_wifi_batched_scan_supported">false</bool>
 
+    <!-- Wifi driver's fallback country code; WS is ISO-Alpha2 code for Samoa which
+         has restrictions on can be scanned; which may satisfy quite a few regulatory issues. -->
+    <string translatable="false" name="config_wifi_unknown_country_code">WS</string>
+
     <!-- Flag indicating whether the we should enable the automatic brightness in Settings.
          Software implementation will be used if config_hardware_auto_brightness_available is not set -->
     <bool name="config_automatic_brightness_available">false</bool>
diff --git a/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml b/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
index 417135584de17..120027629a647 100644
--- a/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
+++ b/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
@@ -478,6 +478,7 @@
   <java-symbol type="string" name="config_ntpServer" />
   <java-symbol type="string" name="config_tether_apndata" />
   <java-symbol type="string" name="config_useragentprofile_url" />
+  <java-symbol type="string" name="config_wifi_unknown_country_code" />
   <java-symbol type="string" name="config_wifi_p2p_device_type" />
   <java-symbol type="string" name="contentServiceSync" />
   <java-symbol type="string" name="contentServiceSyncNotificationTitle" />
diff --git a/wifi/java/android/net/wifi/WifiStateMachine.java b/wifi/java/android/net/wifi/WifiStateMachine.java
index 3dda56a434de7..463a3a6332ff2 100644
--- a/wifi/java/android/net/wifi/WifiStateMachine.java
+++ b/wifi/java/android/net/wifi/WifiStateMachine.java
@@ -1542,8 +1542,11 @@ public class WifiStateMachine extends StateMachine {
         // If it's empty, delay it in case it's a momentary dropout
         int countryCodeSequence = mCountryCodeSequence.incrementAndGet();
         if (TextUtils.isEmpty(countryCode)) {
+            String defaultCountryCode = mContext.getResources().getString(
+                    R.string.config_wifi_unknown_country_code);
+
             sendMessageDelayed(CMD_SET_COUNTRY_CODE, countryCodeSequence, persist ? 1 : 0,
-                    countryCode, COUNTRY_CODE_DELAY_MS);
+                    defaultCountryCode, COUNTRY_CODE_DELAY_MS);
         } else {
             sendMessage(CMD_SET_COUNTRY_CODE, countryCodeSequence, persist ? 1 : 0, countryCode);
         }