diff --git a/src/packages/fff/fff-network/Makefile b/src/packages/fff/fff-network/Makefile
index 81b4ba16..66575b49 100644
--- a/src/packages/fff/fff-network/Makefile
+++ b/src/packages/fff/fff-network/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 include $(TOPDIR)/rules.mk
 
 PKG_NAME:=fff-network
-PKG_RELEASE:=48
+PKG_RELEASE:=49
 
 include $(INCLUDE_DIR)/package.mk
 
diff --git a/src/packages/fff/fff-network/files/usr/sbin/configurenetwork b/src/packages/fff/fff-network/files/usr/sbin/configurenetwork
index 56d377ae..c9ab7b87 100755
--- a/src/packages/fff/fff-network/files/usr/sbin/configurenetwork
+++ b/src/packages/fff/fff-network/files/usr/sbin/configurenetwork
@@ -117,6 +117,8 @@ else
             uci set network.$SWITCHDEV=device
             uci set network.$SWITCHDEV.name=$SWITCHDEV
             uci set network.$SWITCHDEV.type=bridge
+            # temporary workaround for netifd bug present in OpenWrt 21.02.0 (FS#4104)
+            uci set network.$SWITCHDEV.bridge_empty='1'
 
             uci set network.${SWITCHDEV}_1=bridge-vlan
             uci set network.${SWITCHDEV}_1.device=$SWITCHDEV