diff --git a/netjsonconfig/backends/openwrt/renderers.py b/netjsonconfig/backends/openwrt/renderers.py
index 23970372b..bfac30d57 100644
--- a/netjsonconfig/backends/openwrt/renderers.py
+++ b/netjsonconfig/backends/openwrt/renderers.py
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ def _get_interfaces(self):
                 if 'autostart' in uci_interface:
                     uci_interface['auto'] = interface['autostart']
                     del uci_interface['autostart']
-                if uci_interface.get('disabled'):
+                if 'disabled' in uci_interface:
                     uci_interface['enabled'] = not interface['disabled']
                     del uci_interface['disabled']
                 if 'addresses' in uci_interface:
diff --git a/tests/openwrt/test_network.py b/tests/openwrt/test_network.py
index b150ea500..35ecc6a4a 100644
--- a/tests/openwrt/test_network.py
+++ b/tests/openwrt/test_network.py
@@ -1151,3 +1151,19 @@ def test_macaddr_override(self):
     option proto 'none'
 """)
         self.assertEqual(o.render(), expected)
+
+    def test_interface_disabled_bug(self):
+        """
+        see https://github.com/openwisp/netjsonconfig/issues/57
+        """
+        o = OpenWrt({
+            "interfaces": [
+                {
+                    "type": "ethernet",
+                    "name": "eth0",
+                    "disabled": False
+                }
+            ]
+        })
+        self.assertNotIn("disabled '0'", o.render())
+        self.assertIn("enabled '1'", o.render())