diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/connectivity/Tethering.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/connectivity/Tethering.java
index 460d5f9f1db80..1ed0c408e99bd 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/connectivity/Tethering.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/connectivity/Tethering.java
@@ -413,7 +413,8 @@ public class Tethering extends BaseNetworkObserver implements IControlsTethering
             mWifiTetherRequested = enable;
             final WifiManager wifiManager =
                     (WifiManager) mContext.getSystemService(Context.WIFI_SERVICE);
-            if (wifiManager.setWifiApEnabled(null /* use existing wifi config */, enable)) {
+            if ((enable && wifiManager.startSoftAp(null /* use existing wifi config */)) ||
+                (!enable && wifiManager.stopSoftAp())) {
                 return ConnectivityManager.TETHER_ERROR_NO_ERROR;
             }
             return ConnectivityManager.TETHER_ERROR_MASTER_ERROR;
diff --git a/tests/net/java/com/android/server/connectivity/TetheringTest.java b/tests/net/java/com/android/server/connectivity/TetheringTest.java
index e527d57f73672..35f3fcf1ee3b2 100644
--- a/tests/net/java/com/android/server/connectivity/TetheringTest.java
+++ b/tests/net/java/com/android/server/connectivity/TetheringTest.java
@@ -183,8 +183,6 @@ public class TetheringTest {
     @Test
     public void workingLocalOnlyHotspot() throws Exception {
         when(mConnectivityManager.isTetheringSupported()).thenReturn(true);
-        when(mWifiManager.setWifiApEnabled(any(WifiConfiguration.class), anyBoolean()))
-                .thenReturn(true);
 
         // Emulate externally-visible WifiManager effects, causing the
         // per-interface state machine to start up, and telling us that
@@ -234,13 +232,12 @@ public class TetheringTest {
     @Test
     public void workingWifiTethering() throws Exception {
         when(mConnectivityManager.isTetheringSupported()).thenReturn(true);
-        when(mWifiManager.setWifiApEnabled(any(WifiConfiguration.class), anyBoolean()))
-                .thenReturn(true);
+        when(mWifiManager.startSoftAp(any(WifiConfiguration.class))).thenReturn(true);
 
         // Emulate pressing the WiFi tethering button.
         mTethering.startTethering(ConnectivityManager.TETHERING_WIFI, null, false);
         mLooper.dispatchAll();
-        verify(mWifiManager, times(1)).setWifiApEnabled(null, true);
+        verify(mWifiManager, times(1)).startSoftAp(null);
         verifyNoMoreInteractions(mWifiManager);
         verifyNoMoreInteractions(mConnectivityManager);
         verifyNoMoreInteractions(mNMService);
@@ -286,7 +283,7 @@ public class TetheringTest {
         // Emulate pressing the WiFi tethering button.
         mTethering.stopTethering(ConnectivityManager.TETHERING_WIFI);
         mLooper.dispatchAll();
-        verify(mWifiManager, times(1)).setWifiApEnabled(null, false);
+        verify(mWifiManager, times(1)).stopSoftAp();
         verifyNoMoreInteractions(mWifiManager);
         verifyNoMoreInteractions(mConnectivityManager);
         verifyNoMoreInteractions(mNMService);