diff --git a/netjsonconfig/backends/openwrt/renderers.py b/netjsonconfig/backends/openwrt/renderers.py
index ded7a19b4..75fbf6a64 100644
--- a/netjsonconfig/backends/openwrt/renderers.py
+++ b/netjsonconfig/backends/openwrt/renderers.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ def _get_interfaces(self):
         interfaces = self.config.get('interfaces', [])
         # this line ensures interfaces are not entirely
         # ignored if they do not contain any address
-        default_addresses = [{'proto': 'none'}]
+        default_address = [{'proto': 'none'}]
         # results container
         uci_interfaces = []
         for interface in interfaces:
@@ -34,8 +34,12 @@ def _get_interfaces(self):
             if interface.get('type') == 'bridge':
                 is_bridge = True
                 bridge_members = ' '.join(interface['bridge_members'])
+            # ensure address list is not never empty, even when 'addresses' is []
+            address_list = interface.get('addresses')
+            if not address_list:
+                address_list = default_address
             # address list defaults to empty list
-            for address in interface.get('addresses', default_addresses):
+            for address in address_list:
                 # prepare new UCI interface directive
                 uci_interface = deepcopy(interface)
                 if network:
@@ -46,11 +50,11 @@ def _get_interfaces(self):
                 if uci_interface.get('disabled'):
                     uci_interface['enabled'] = not interface['disabled']
                     del uci_interface['disabled']
-                if uci_interface.get('addresses'):
+                if 'addresses' in uci_interface:
                     del uci_interface['addresses']
-                if uci_interface.get('type'):
+                if 'type' in uci_interface:
                     del uci_interface['type']
-                if uci_interface.get('wireless'):
+                if 'wireless' in uci_interface:
                     del uci_interface['wireless']
                 # default values
                 address_key = None
diff --git a/tests/openwrt/test_network.py b/tests/openwrt/test_network.py
index 0351b3fe8..0e5dd0c7c 100644
--- a/tests/openwrt/test_network.py
+++ b/tests/openwrt/test_network.py
@@ -874,3 +874,30 @@ def test_mac_address_format(self):
         # empty is valid (will be ignored)
         o.config['interfaces'][0]['mac'] = ''
         o.validate()
+
+    def test_default_addresses(self):
+        """
+        the following configuration dictionary caused empty output up to 0.4.0
+        """
+        o = OpenWrt({
+            "interfaces": [
+                {
+                    "type": "bridge",
+                    "network": "lan",
+                    "addresses": [],
+                    "name": "br-lan",
+                    "bridge_members": [
+                        "eth0",
+                        "eth1"
+                    ]
+                }
+            ]
+        })
+        expected = self._tabs("""package network
+
+config interface 'lan'
+    option ifname 'eth0 eth1'
+    option proto 'none'
+    option type 'bridge'
+""")
+        self.assertEqual(o.render(), expected)